RELATING TO FINANCING.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Nadine Nakamura

HB 1421 expands reimbursement for law enforcement training costs in Arkansas, ensuring agencies support officer training and recover costs if officers switch jobs within 18 months.

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 662) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

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Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1421 (HB 1421) aims to amend existing laws regarding the reimbursement of training costs for law enforcement officers in Arkansas. The bill seeks to expand the scope of eligible law enforcement agencies that can receive reimbursement for training expenses, thereby promoting better financial support for agencies that invest in the training of their officers.

Key Provisions

Reimbursement Eligibility: The bill allows any law enforcement agency recognized by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training to be eligible for reimbursement of training costs.

Reimbursement Structure:

If a law enforcement officer is employed by a different agency within 18 months of completing training, the employing agency must reimburse the original agency for training costs.
The reimbursement amount varies based on the time elapsed since training completion:
0-2 months: 100% reimbursement
2-6 months: 80% reimbursement
6-10 months: 60% reimbursement
10-14 months: 40% reimbursement
14-18 months: 20% reimbursement

Enforcement Mechanism: If an employing agency fails to reimburse as required, the Treasurer of State will withhold the reimbursement amount from the county or municipal aid of the employing agency.

Private Community Inclusion: The bill also includes provisions for private communities with populations over 5,000 that employ certified law enforcement officers, allowing them to seek reimbursement for training costs.

Affected Parties

Law Enforcement Agencies: All counties, cities, towns, and state agencies, as well as private communities that employ certified law enforcement officers, will be impacted by the changes in reimbursement eligibility and structure.

Law Enforcement Officers: Officers who receive training funded by one agency and are subsequently employed by another will benefit from the financial support provided through this bill.

Procedural Aspects

Introduced: February 6, 2025

Status: Reported from the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection (EEP) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to the Committee on Finance (FIN).

Legislative Actions:

The bill was filed and read for the first time on February 6, 2025.
It passed the second reading on February 14, 2025, and was referred to the FIN committee.
The EEP committee recommended the measure be passed with amendments on January 30, 2025.

Related Legislation

Companion Bill: SB 1512, which may address similar issues or provide additional context to the provisions outlined in HB 1421.

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of HB 1421, highlighting its purpose, key provisions, affected parties, and procedural timeline, making it accessible for both legislative experts and the general public.

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