HB1306
Concerning Civil Immunity For A Church Or Other Place Of Worship; And To Provide Civil Immunity For Volunteer Security Personnel In A Church Or Other Place Of Worship.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill proposes to establish civil immunity for churches and other places of worship, as well as their volunteer security personnel, in Arkansas. It defines a 'volunteer security person' as an individual providing safety and security services for a place of worship without remuneration. The bill states that neither the volunteer nor the place of worship would be subject to civil liability for damages, injury, or death resulting from a negligent act or omission by the volunteer security person. This immunity would apply even if the volunteer used nonlethal or lethal force, provided the church mandated adequate training and the volunteer received it. However, the immunity would not extend to intentional, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct. The purpose is to encourage the use of volunteer security at religious institutions.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill are churches and other places of worship within Arkansas, as well as individuals who volunteer to provide security services for these institutions. By granting civil immunity for negligent acts or omissions, the bill aims to reduce the potential legal and financial risks associated with utilizing unpaid security personnel. This could encourage more religious organizations to establish or expand volunteer security programs, and it may also provide a sense of protection for individuals willing to serve in these volunteer roles, potentially making it easier for them to offer their services without undue concern for personal liability.
Who Might Suffer?
Individuals who may suffer injury or death due to the actions of volunteer security personnel at a church or other place of worship could be negatively impacted by this bill. While the bill includes exceptions for intentional, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct, the broad grant of immunity for negligent acts or omissions could potentially limit their ability to seek recourse or compensation for damages. This could be particularly relevant if the training requirements or oversight mechanisms for volunteer security are not robustly enforced by the religious institutions.