The proposed bill, titled the "Vulnerable Youth Protection Act," aims to establish legal provisions regarding the social transitioning and medical procedures such as castration, sterilization, or mutilation of minors. It introduces a new chapter in the Arkansas Code, defining key terms and outlining the conditions under which civil actions can be brought against individuals or entities that contribute to these actions. Specifically, the bill stipulates that any person who causes or contributes to the social transitioning or the aforementioned medical procedures on a minor can be held strictly liable for any resulting harm. The bill also clarifies that certain medical treatments for minors with specific conditions are exempt from this liability.

Additionally, the bill outlines the potential damages that can be recovered in a civil action, including nominal, compensatory, and statutory damages, as well as punitive damages in cases of irreversible harm. It emphasizes that enforcement of this chapter will occur exclusively through private civil actions, prohibiting state or local government entities from intervening in such cases. The bill also includes a severability clause, ensuring that if any provision is found invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable. Overall, the act seeks to provide a legal framework for addressing concerns related to the medical treatment of minors in the context of gender identity and social transitioning.