HB1437

House Bill 1437 amends Arkansas law to restrict registered sex offenders who are assessed as Level 3 or Level 4 from entering specific public recreational areas. The bill replaces existing, narrower statutes with a broader prohibition covering water parks, swimming areas, and children's playgrounds located within any public park owned or maintained by the state or local political subdivisions. It also extends these restrictions to privately owned land that operates under a public easement as part of a park system. The bill further establishes a boundary restriction, making it a Class D felony for affected individuals to knowingly enter within 100 feet of these designated areas. This legislation effectively consolidates and expands the geographic scope of where high-risk sex offenders are prohibited from being present in public recreational spaces.