Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 725 of the Regular Session
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S3/10/21
2 93rd General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2021 SENATE BILL 153
4
5 By: Senators Gilmore, B. Ballinger, Beckham, Bledsoe, B. Davis, Flippo, T. Garner, K. Hammer, Hester,
6 B. Johnson, D. Sullivan, C. Tucker, D. Wallace
7 By: Representatives Ray, Beaty Jr., M. Berry, Boyd, Brooks, Brown, Furman, Haak, McCollum,
8 Underwood, Wardlaw
9
10 For An Act To Be Entitled
11 AN ACT TO CREATE THE WORKFORCE EXPANSION ACT OF 2021;
12 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
13
14
15 Subtitle
16 TO CREATE THE WORKFORCE EXPANSION ACT OF
17 2021.
18
19
20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
21
22 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 4, Chapter 25, Subchapter 1, is amended
23 to add an additional section to read as follows:
24 4-25-110. Fee waiver for certain individuals.
25 (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the initial filing fees,
26 permit fees, and licensing fees associated with the formation of a business
27 in this state shall be waived for applicants who meet the requirements in the
28 Workforce Expansion Act of 2021, 17-4-101 et seq.
29 (b) Appropriate state entities shall:
30 (1) Publish notice of the fee waiver on:
31 (A) The website maintained by the appropriate state
32 entity; and
33 (B) Any relevant forms that an applicant is required to
34 complete; and
35 (2) Promulgate any necessary rules to implement this section.
36
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 As Engrossed: S3/10/21 SB153
1 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code Title 17, is amended to add an additional
2 chapter to read as follows:
3 Chapter 4 Workforce Expansion Act of 2021
4
5 17-4-101. Title.
6 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Workforce
7 Expansion Act of 2021".
8
9 17-4-102. Legislative findings Purpose.
10 (a) The General Assembly finds that:
11 (1) Entrepreneurs and workers must pay various fees in order to
12 work in a government-regulated profession or occupation or to start a small
13 business in Arkansas;
14 (2) Families trying to break the cycle of government dependency
15 should not have to pay the state to earn a living; and
16 (3) Arkansas should waive initial fees associated with
17 occupational and professional regulations and the formation of a business for
18 low-income individuals.
19 (b) It is the purpose of this chapter to increase access to
20 professional and occupational licenses that would otherwise be cost
21 prohibitive for certain individuals.
22
23 17-4-103. Definitions.
24 As used in this chapter:
25 (1) "License" means a license, certificate, registration,
26 permit, or other form of authorization required by law or rule that is
27 required for an individual to engage in a particular occupation or
28 profession; and
29 (2)(A) "Licensing entity" means an office, board, commission,
30 department, council, bureau, or other agency of state government having
31 authority to license, certify, register, permit, or otherwise authorize an
32 individual to engage in a particular occupation or profession.
33 (B) "Licensing entity" does not include a political
34 subdivision of the state or any other local or regional governmental entity,
35 including without limitation a city of the first class, a city of the second
36 class, an incorporated town, or a county.
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 As Engrossed: S3/10/21 SB153
1 17-4-104. Fee waiver.
2 (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a licensing entity shall
3 not require an initial fee for individuals who are seeking to receive a
4 license in this state if the applicant:
5 (1) Is receiving assistance through the Arkansas Medicaid
6 Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Special
7 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the
8 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, or the Lifeline Assistance
9 Program;
10 (2) Was approved for unemployment within the last twelve (12)
11 months; or
12 (3) Has an income that does not exceed two hundred percent
13 (200%) of the federal poverty income guidelines.
14 (b) The waiver of the initial fee does not include fees for:
15 (1) A criminal background check;
16 (2) An examination or a test; or
17 (3) A medical or drug test.
18 (c) The Department of Human Services and the Division of Workforce
19 Services shall collaborate with a licensing entity concerning verification of
20 eligibility for public benefits for applicants, which may include obtaining a
21 signed consent form from the applicant.
22
23 17-4-105. Licensing entity duties.
24 A licensing entity shall:
25 (1) Publish notice of the fee waiver on:
26 (A) The website maintained by the licensing entity; and
27 (B) Any relevant forms that an applicant is required to
28 complete; and
29 (2) Promulgate any necessary rules to implement this chapter.
30
31 SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
32 SECTIONS 1 and 2 of this act shall be effective on and after January 1,
33 2022.
34
35 /s/Gilmore
36 APPROVED: 4/15/21
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