An act CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER STANDARDS, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas           As Engrossed: H3/20/25
2 95th General Assembly
                                    A Bill

3 Regular Session, 2025                                          HOUSE BILL 1769

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5 By: Representative Barnett

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8                             For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER STANDARDS;

10  TO REQUIRE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OR ASSESSMENT

11  TO BECOME OR BE EMPLOYED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT

12  OFFICER; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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15                            Subtitle

16                       CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

17                       STANDARDS; AND TO REQUIRE A

18                       PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OR ASSESSMENT

19                       TO BECOME OR BE EMPLOYED AS A LAW

20                       ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

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22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

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24  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 12, Chapter 9, Subchapter 1, is amended

25 to add an additional section to read as follows:

26  12-9-127. Psychological evaluations or assessments.

27  (a) The Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training

28 shall require all individuals to be evaluated or assessed by a licensed

29 psychiatrist or psychologist before employment with a law enforcement agency.

30  (b) A law enforcement officer employed by a law enforcement agency,

31 regardless of whether employed full time, part time, or on an auxiliary

32 basis, shall be evaluated or assessed every five (5) years by an individual

33 licensed to practice psychiatry or psychology and qualified to perform a

34 psychological evaluation or assessment in this state.

35  (c) A psychological evaluation or assessment under this section may be

36 conducted in-person or through telemedicine.

    *JMB476*                                                     03-20-2025 10:06:28 JMB476
    As Engrossed: H3/20/25                                             HB1769

1   (d) A law enforcement officer seeking employment with a new or

2 different law enforcement agency shall not submit a psychological evaluation

3 or assessment that is older than two (2) years to a law enforcement agency or

4 the commission.

5 (e) A law enforcement officer shall update his or her psychological

6 evaluation or assessment every five (5) years with the commission to maintain

7 law enforcement officer certification.

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9                           /s/Barnett

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