Bill > HB1648

This bill amends Arkansas law to grant members of municipal fire department bomb squads limited arrest authority under specific conditions. To make arrests, a bomb squad member must have successfully completed a part-time law enforcement officer training course approved by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training and must be acting in their official capacity. They can make arrests related to explosives-related incidents or offenses, or when assisting a law enforcement agency. The bill also updates the legal definition of a "certified law enforcement officer" to include these specially trained bomb squad members. The emergency clause justifies the immediate implementation of this law by arguing that bomb squad members currently lack arrest authority, which could potentially prevent them from quickly addressing imminent explosives hazards and protecting public safety. The bill would become effective immediately upon gubernatorial approval, the expiration of the governor's review period, or the overriding of a potential veto.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1648&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R