The proposed bill establishes a formal election procedure for determining the fluoridation of public water systems in Arkansas by introducing "Subchapter 9 - Fluoridation Election" to the Arkansas Code Title 14, Chapter 116. It allows for a fluoridation election to be initiated through a petition signed by at least 38% of registered voters from the public water system, which must be filed with the county clerk at least 120 days before the election. The bill outlines the responsibilities of election officers, the hiring and training of paid canvassers, and the signing process for the petition, emphasizing the need for accurate information from registered voters.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for petition verification, including an affidavit from the canvasser confirming their residence and the validity of the signatures collected. It specifies that each petition part must contain signatures from only one county and outlines penalties for false statements made by canvassers, classifying them as Class D felonies. The bill also details the examination and certification process for petitions by county clerks, the notification process for elections, and mandates that water system entities maintain fluoride levels as established by the Department of Health unless an election outcome prohibits it.

Statutes affected:
SB 613: 14-116-901, 14-116-913, 14-116-914, 20-7-136(b)