HB1077
Concerning The Incarceration Of A Veteran Of The United States Armed Forces; And To Provide For Notification To The Arkansas Department Of Veterans Affairs Of The Incarceration Of A Veteran.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, designated as House Bill 1077, proposes to establish new procedures for the incarceration of United States Armed Forces veterans in Arkansas. It mandates that correctional facility administrators, or their designees, or county veteran service officers, must verify a person's veteran status within fourteen days of initial incarceration. This verification is to be conducted using available data from the Veterans Reentry Search Service or similar platforms. If a person is identified as a veteran and is still in custody, and their sentence is six months or longer (or believed to be), written notification of their incarceration must be sent to the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs within forty-five days. Furthermore, upon release of a veteran who has served at least six months, similar notification of their release must be provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill also requires correctional facilities to grant reasonable access to veterans affairs agencies to assist incarcerated veterans in applying for eligible benefits, compensation, or treatment, including veterans treatment specialty courts. The results of veteran status verification are to be made available upon request to certain legal and judicial officials.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be veterans of the United States Armed Forces who are incarcerated in Arkansas. By mandating the verification of veteran status and subsequent notification to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the bill aims to ensure that these individuals are recognized as veterans during their incarceration and upon release. This could lead to greater access to federal and state benefits, compensation, and treatment programs for which they may be eligible. Additionally, the provision for access to assist in applying for these resources and for veterans treatment specialty courts could offer pathways for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary entities that would be most directly and negatively impacted by this bill are the administrators of correctional facilities, including local correctional facilities, and potentially county veteran service officers. These entities would be required to implement new procedures for verifying veteran status, which may involve additional administrative tasks, record-keeping, and communication responsibilities. They would also need to ensure timely notification to the Department of Veterans Affairs in specific circumstances, which could strain existing resources and staff. The requirement to provide reasonable access to veterans affairs agencies for assisting inmates could also present logistical challenges and potential resource allocation issues within correctional facilities.