The proposed legislation aims to establish a new criminal offense known as "threat of harm upon a financial institution employee." This offense is defined in the newly added section 5-60-126 of the Arkansas Code, which specifies that a financial institution employee includes individuals working for state or national banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, or mortgage loan lenders. The bill outlines that a person commits this offense if they engage in conduct that threatens or creates a potential danger to a financial institution employee while the employee is performing their job duties, demonstrating extreme indifference to the employee's safety.

The offense is classified as a Class B misdemeanor. Additionally, the bill clarifies that it does not alter existing laws regarding the transfer of juvenile cases to circuit court for adult prosecution or the determination of a defendant's fitness to proceed in a criminal case. This legislation seeks to enhance the protection of financial institution employees by criminalizing threats made against them in the course of their employment.