AR SB237

Allows preparation of racial impact statements for bills that create new criminal offenses, substantively change existing offenses, change penalties for existing offenses, or modify sentencing, parole, or probation procedures

Requires racial impact statements to be filed with committee chairs and shared with committee members when bills are considered

Designates the Office of Economic and Tax Policy, with assistance from University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and Hendrix College Arkansas Policy Program, to prepare racial impact statements

Mandates the Arkansas Sentencing Commission, Department of Correction, Department of Community Correction, Administrative Office of the Courts, and Arkansas Crime Information Center provide requested data to complete statements

Requires racial impact statements to include estimated number of affected criminal cases annually, impact on minority groups, impact on correctional facilities and services, and other relevant matters