SB597

Senate Bill 597 creates a new criminal offense in Arkansas titled 'threat of harm upon a financial institution employee.' The bill defines a financial institution employee to include staff at banks, trust companies, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and mortgage lenders. Under the proposed law, an individual commits this offense if they purposely engage in conduct that threatens or creates potential danger to such an employee while they are working, under circumstances showing extreme indifference to the employee's safety. The act classifies this offense as a Class B misdemeanor. The bill includes provisions to ensure it does not alter existing laws regarding the transfer of juvenile cases to circuit court or the determination of a defendant's fitness to proceed in criminal proceedings.