Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/10/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1535
4
5 By: Representatives Duffield, Wardlaw
6 By: Senator Dees
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO PROVIDE AN ENHANCED SENTENCE FOR PERSONS
10 CONVICTED OF RAPE OF A CHILD TWELVE YEARS OF AGE OR
11 YOUNGER; TO PERMIT CHEMICAL CASTRATION BY
12 MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE TREATMENT FOR PERSONS
13 CONVICTED OF RAPE OF A CHILD TWELVE YEARS OF AGE OR
14 YOUNGER; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO
15 ADMINISTER MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE TREATMENT FOR
16 CERTAIN PERSONS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
17
18
19 Subtitle
20 TO PROVIDE AN ENHANCED SENTENCE FOR
21 PERSONS CONVICTED OF RAPE OF A CHILD
22 TWELVE YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER; TO
23 PERMIT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO
24 ADMINISTER MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE
25 TREATMENT FOR CHEMICAL CASTRATION.
26
27 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
28
29 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 5, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, is amended
30 to add an additional section to read as follows:
31 5-4-708. Enhanced sentence of chemical castration for certain sex
32 offenders.
33 (a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, a person who commits
34 rape, � 5-14-103, upon conviction is subject to an enhanced sentence of
35 chemical castration by medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment to be
36 administered by the Department of Corrections by a licensed physician if the
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As Engrossed: H3/10/25 HB1535
1 victim of the offense was twelve (12) years of age or younger.
2 (b)(1) An order of a court sentencing a defendant to
3 medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment under this section is contingent upon a
4 determination by a medical expert appointed by the court that the defendant
5 is an appropriate candidate for medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment.
6 (2) The determination of a medical expert under subdivision
7 (b)(1) of this section shall be made no later than sixty (60) days from the
8 imposition of sentence.
9 (3) An order of the court sentencing a defendant to
10 medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment under this section shall specify the
11 duration of medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment for a specific term of
12 years, or in the discretion of the court, up to the life of the defendant.
13 (c)(1) The department shall provide the services necessary to
14 administer and monitor medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment under this
15 section.
16 (2) If a defendant subject to this section is sentenced to
17 imprisonment or confinement in an institution, the medroxyprogesterone
18 acetate treatment under this section shall commence not later than one (1)
19 week before the defendant's release from prison or the institution.
20 (3) Medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment shall not be performed
21 under this section if medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment is not medically
22 appropriate.
23 (4) Instead of medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment under this
24 section, the court may order the defendant to undergo physical castration if
25 the defendant files a written motion with the court stating that the
26 defendant intelligently and knowingly gives the defendant's voluntary consent
27 to physical castration as an alternative to the medroxyprogesterone acetate
28 treatment.
29 (d) If a defendant is sentenced to medroxyprogesterone acetate
30 treatment under this section and knowingly fails to appear for
31 medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment or knowingly refuses to allow
32 medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment, upon conviction the defendant is
33 guilty of a Class Y felony.
34
35 /s/Duffield
36
2 03-10-2025 11:25:03 CEB167Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.