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HB 1769

CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER STANDARDS; AND TO REQUIRE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OR ASSESSMENT TO BECOME OR BE EMPLOYED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lincoln Barnett

HB 1769 sought to require psychological evaluations for new and current law enforcement officers in Arkansas, aiming to enhance mental fitness and public safety.

Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 1769

Summary of House Bill 1769

Bill Information

  • Bill Number: HB 1769
  • Title: Concerning Law Enforcement Officer Standards; and to Require a Psychological Evaluation or Assessment to Become or Be Employed as a Law Enforcement Officer.
  • Status: Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
  • Introduced: March 12, 2025
  • Sponsor: Representative Barnett

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1769 aimed to enhance the standards for law enforcement officers in Arkansas by mandating psychological evaluations or assessments as a prerequisite for employment and ongoing certification. The intent was to ensure that individuals entering or continuing in law enforcement roles are mentally fit to perform their duties, thereby promoting public safety and trust in law enforcement agencies.

Key Provisions

The bill proposed several significant changes to existing law regarding law enforcement officer standards:

  1. Mandatory Psychological Evaluations:

    • All individuals seeking employment with a law enforcement agency must undergo an evaluation by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist prior to hiring.

  2. Periodic Assessments:

    • Current law enforcement officers, regardless of their employment status (full-time, part-time, or auxiliary), would be required to undergo psychological evaluations every five years to maintain their certification.

  3. Evaluation Validity:

    • Officers seeking employment with a new agency would be prohibited from submitting evaluations older than two years.

  4. Evaluation Method:

    • Psychological evaluations could be conducted in-person or via telemedicine, providing flexibility in how assessments are administered.

Fiscal Impact

The fiscal impact statement indicated that the implementation of this bill would incur costs associated with additional staff needed to process the evaluations. The estimated cost to the General Revenue was approximately $88,221. Local agencies would also bear costs, which would vary based on the number of new hires and existing officers needing reevaluation. The availability and demand for qualified evaluators would further influence local costs.

Affected Parties

  • Law Enforcement Agencies: All agencies in Arkansas would need to comply with the new evaluation requirements.
  • Law Enforcement Officers: Current and prospective officers would be directly affected by the new evaluation and assessment requirements.
  • Psychiatrists/Psychologists: Licensed mental health professionals would see increased demand for their services due to the mandated evaluations.

Legislative Timeline

  • March 12, 2025: Bill filed and read for the first time.
  • March 20, 2025: The bill was read a second time, amended, and reported correctly engrossed.
  • May 5, 2025: The bill died in the House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

While HB 1769 aimed to establish important mental health standards for law enforcement officers in Arkansas, it ultimately did not progress past the committee stage. The proposed requirements reflected a growing recognition of the importance of mental health in law enforcement, though the bill's failure to advance leaves the current standards unchanged.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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