SB519

Senate Bill 519 creates the 'Vulnerable Person Protection Act,' which establishes new criminal penalties for the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable persons in Arkansas. The bill defines a 'vulnerable person' as any individual who is 69 years of age or older, or any person receiving 24-hour care in an inpatient facility. It defines 'caregivers' and 'healthcare providers' and sets specific criteria for what constitutes abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The legislation creates three distinct criminal offenses: abuse of a vulnerable person, neglect of a vulnerable person, and exploitation of a vulnerable person. Each offense is categorized into varying levels of felonies and misdemeanors based on the severity of the harm caused or the financial value of the assets exploited. The bill also provides an affirmative defense for the use of physical or chemical restraints when necessary for immediate safety. Its stated purpose is to expand protections for these populations by enhancing the state's capacity to prosecute those who harm them.