SB353

Senate Bill 353 clarifies and expands the scope of legislative privilege and confidentiality regarding communications between legislators and legislative employees in Arkansas. It explicitly defines drafting requests, information requests, and related supporting documents as confidential and privileged, shielding them from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill extends these protections to former legislators and creates a legal framework based on deliberative process and legislative privileges. Furthermore, it establishes that these communications are not considered public records unless the legislator chooses to release them. It also introduces a provision making it a Class B misdemeanor for former legislative employees to knowingly disclose such communications or use them for personal gain. The bill reinforces the legislative branch's ability to maintain private, internal discussions during the policy-making process.