AR HB2033

Amends Arkansas Code § 26-17-403 to require the Department of Finance and Administration Director to establish a criminal background check policy for employees and contractors with access to federal tax information.

Applies to current employees, job applicants, and contractor employees/applicants of the Department of Finance and Administration who may access federal tax information.

Criminal background checks must be conducted by the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau and Federal Bureau of Investigation, include fingerprinting, and satisfy Internal Revenue Service standards for federal tax information access.

Requires background checks for job applicants before employment offers are extended and for current employees at least once every 10 years, with costs covered by the Department of Finance and Administration.

Restricts use of background check information to employment and retention decisions, requires affected persons to report arrests for misdemeanor or felony offenses, and permits immediate termination for failure to report subsequent arrests.