Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas
2 93rd General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2021 HOUSE BILL 1333
4
5 By: Representatives Penzo, Slape, Lundstrum
6
7 For An Act To Be Entitled
8 AN ACT PERMITTING NONIMMGRANTS LEGALLY ADMITTED TO
9 THE UNITED STATES UNDER A COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION
10 TO BE A CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; TO BE
11 KNOWN AS THE "MARSHALLESE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT"; AND
12 FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
13
14
15 Subtitle
16 PERMITTING NONIMMGRANTS LEGALLY ADMITTED
17 TO THE UNITED STATES UNDER A COMPACT OF
18 FREE ASSOCIATION TO BE A CERTIFIED LAW
19 ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; AND TO BE KNOWN AS
20 THE "MARSHALLESE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT".
21
22
23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
24
25 SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Title.
26 This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Marshallese Law
27 Enforcement Act".
28
29 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code 12-8-202(a), concerning the qualifications
30 to be a police officer of the Division of Arkansas State Police, is amended
31 to read as follows:
32 (a)(1)(A) All applicants for positions as police officers of the
33 Department Division of Arkansas State Police shall be citizens of the United
34 States or nonimmigrants legally admitted to the United States under a Compact
35 of Free Association.
36 (B) However, the applicants must become citizens of the
*BPG238* 1/28/2021 9:50:42 AM BPG238
 HB1333
1 State of Arkansas in order to commence employment.
2 (2) Any applicant shall be employed strictly upon an efficiency
3 basis irrespective of race, gender, religion, or political affiliation.
4
5 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code Title 12, Chapter 9, Subchapter 1, is amended
6 to add an additional section to read as follows:
7 12-9-124. Certified officer required to be citizen or nonimmigrant
8 legally admitted to the United States under Compact of Free Association.
9 A person is ineligible to be a certified law enforcement officer if the
10 person is not:
11 (1) A citizen of the United States; or
12 (2) A nonimmigrant legally admitted to the United States under a
13 Compact of Free Association entered into on or before January 1, 2021.
14
15 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code 12-9-304(j), concerning the qualifications
16 to become an auxiliary law enforcement officer, is amended to read as
17 follows:
18 (j) Every person appointed or serving as an auxiliary law enforcement
19 officer shall be a citizen of the United States and shall be at least twenty-
20 one (21) years of age.
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
2 1/28/2021 9:50:42 AM BPG238


Statutes affected:
HB 1333: 12-8-202(a), 12-9-304(j)