HB1769
Concerning Law Enforcement Officer Standards; And To Require A Psychological Evaluation Or Assessment To Become Or Be Employed As A Law Enforcement Officer.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1769 amends Arkansas law to mandate psychological evaluations for all individuals seeking employment as law enforcement officers. The bill requires that these evaluations be conducted by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. Furthermore, it establishes a recurring requirement for all law enforcement officers, including part-time and auxiliary staff, to undergo such evaluations every five years to maintain their certification. Officers changing employment must provide an evaluation that is no more than two years old to the commission or the hiring agency. These assessments may be conducted either in person or via telemedicine.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill are the public and law enforcement agencies, as the legislation aims to ensure that individuals serving as officers meet psychological standards deemed necessary for the profession. Additionally, licensed psychiatrists and psychologists in Arkansas may benefit from an increase in demand for their professional evaluation services.
Who Might Suffer?
Law enforcement agencies and local governments may be negatively impacted due to the potential for increased administrative costs and budgetary demands associated with facilitating, funding, or processing these recurring mandatory evaluations. Individual law enforcement officers may face negative impacts related to the time commitment required for compliance and the potential for losing their certification if they do not meet the assessment standards.
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