HB1077

House Bill 1077 requires administrators of Arkansas state and local correctional facilities to verify the veteran status of all newly incarcerated individuals within 14 days of their initial custody. If an inmate is identified as a veteran, the facility must notify the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs within 45 days if the inmate remains in custody and is serving a sentence of six months or more. The bill also requires notification to the Department of Veterans Affairs upon the release of a veteran who has been incarcerated for at least six months. Furthermore, facilities must provide representatives from the U.S. and state Departments of Veterans Affairs reasonable access to help incarcerated veterans apply for benefits, compensation, or specialty court treatment programs. Facility administrators are also required to share veteran status verification results with relevant legal and court officials upon request.