SB8

Senate Bill 8 establishes a new criminal offense in Arkansas titled 'vaccine harm.' The bill makes it a felony for an executive officer of a pharmaceutical company to knowingly withhold or conceal evidence of dangerous effects of a vaccine if that vaccine subsequently causes death or serious physical injury to a recipient in the state. The offense is classified as an unclassified felony carrying a potential sentence ranging from one year to life imprisonment. Additionally, the bill creates a 'Vaccine Harm Offense Fund' to provide financial resources for the Attorney General to prosecute these specific cases. The bill includes a sunset provision, meaning the act and its provisions expire on December 31, 2026. The legislation explicitly excludes healthcare providers, pharmacies, and hospitals from the definition of a pharmaceutical company for the purposes of this offense.