SB270

Senate Bill 270 amends the Arkansas criminal code regarding the offense of sexual indecency with a child. The primary substantive change creates a new Class C misdemeanor offense for individuals 18 years or older who enter or remain in a public changing facility assigned to the opposite sex while knowing a minor of the opposite sex is present. The bill provides specific exemptions for activities such as providing medical assistance, maintenance work, caregiving for a minor or person in need, and situations where facilities are temporarily designated for same-sex use. It also defines 'sex' based on biological sex at birth and clarifies the definition of 'public changing facility.' Additionally, the bill updates numerous sections of the Arkansas Code to ensure that this new misdemeanor offense is excluded from provisions that trigger felony-level consequences, such as mandatory sex offender registration, employment disqualifications for teachers or healthcare workers, and other severe criminal justice mandates. The bill maintains that felony-level sexual indecency with a child remains subject to these more stringent legal and administrative consequences.