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Committee approves measure to bar level 3 and 4 sex-offenders from within 100 feet of defined water-recreation areas in public parks
Summary
House Bill 1437 passed out of committee after extended floor-style discussion. The measure makes it unlawful for people assessed as level 3 or 4 sex offenders to knowingly enter within 100 feet of a water park, defined swimming area or children’s playground within certain public parks; senators debated scope and enforcement limits.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report House Bill 1437 do pass after an extended debate over scope and enforcement.
Representative Matt Duffield (House District 503) said the bill responds to law enforcement concerns about level 3 and 4 sex-offender presence at public splash pads and water-recreation areas. "This bill essentially does is it prohibits registered ... offenders that are level 3 and 4. It keeps them from coming 100 feet within these areas," Duffield said, listing offense types typically leading to those classifications.
Committee members probed the bill’s reach and consequences. Senators asked whether the restriction would apply to all public parks, hiking trails and rivers, and whether it would cover federal lands. Committee discussion clarified the bill replaces a prior reference to "Arkansas State Park" with "public park" in parts of the code and adds a new 100‑foot buffer around water parks and defined swimming areas contained within included parks. Several senators urged careful drafting to ensure the prohibition applies only to defined swimming or water‑park areas rather than to all public trails.
Multiple senators also questioned recidivism data and whether a lifelong, location-based restriction is proportional when an offense involved an adult victim. Senator Tucker and others urged more data before expanding restrictions; Senator Stubblefield, Senator McKee, Senator Johnson and others said the seriousness of level 3 and 4 convictions warrants strict protections for places children gather.
Sponsors said the bill addressed a specific local problem and noted prosecutors support the bill. After discussion and clarification on statutory definitions, the committee moved the bill to do pass; the chair announced the motion carried after a voice vote.
