AR HB1173

Reorganizes and renumbers provisions of Arkansas Code § 5-14-110 (sexual indecency with a child) from 4 subsections to 9 subsections while maintaining substantive offense definitions.

Adds new subsection (9) to sexual indecency with a child: persons age 18 or older soliciting persons under 15 to engage only in sexual contact is a Class A misdemeanor.

Restructures Arkansas Code § 5-14-127 (sexual assault in the fourth degree) to consolidate age-of-victim distinctions and clarify offense elements involving persons age 18 or older.

Updates sentencing classifications: sexual assault in the fourth degree under subdivision (a)(1) is now a Class C felony, subdivisions (a)(2), (a)(4), and (a)(6) are Class D felonies, and subdivisions (a)(3) and (a)(5) are Class A misdemeanors.

Maintains existing affirmative defense allowing persons within three years of the victim's age to be exempt from prosecution under sexual indecency provisions.