AR HB1373

Establishes that criminal background checks for employment, licensure, and credentialing purposes shall exclude any convictions lawfully sealed under the Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013 (§ 16-90-1401 et seq.) or otherwise previously sealed or expunged under prior law.

Applies the sealed record exclusion to criminal background checks across multiple state agencies and licensing boards, including education, healthcare, law enforcement, financial services, gaming, and child welfare.

Modifies employment disqualification standards so that sealed convictions cannot be used to bar individuals from employment in positions ranging from teachers and nurses to state employees in designated financial roles.

Requires specific language in statutes to clarify that sealed records shall not appear in background checks while maintaining other lawful uses of sealed records (such as in criminal proceedings and impeachment).

Affects numerous Arkansas Code sections across titles 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, and 28 to ensure consistent treatment of sealed criminal history statewide.