HB 1770 Summary

• Creates the "Fresh Start Act of 2019" to establish a framework allowing incarcerated persons in the Arkansas Department of Correction to resolve pending misdemeanor and nonviolent felony offenses while serving their current sentences.

• Requires the Department of Correction to compile all outstanding arrest warrants, criminal summons, pending misdemeanor cases, and pending violent felony cases in cooperation with the Arkansas Crime Information Center and Administrative Office of the Courts.

• Permits incarcerated persons to petition courts for quick resolution of pending offenses (excluding violent felonies) and request to be served with outstanding arrest warrants; allows remote pleas via real-time audio and visual communication subject to judiciary rules.

• Requires negotiated pleas entered through this process to run concurrently with the person's current sentence and encourages courts to impose incarceration only rather than fines.

• Allows persons to petition courts to rescind or eliminate outstanding fines, fees, and costs from prior convictions, with courts encouraged to eliminate assessments due to current incarceration; requires prosecuting attorneys to be notified of all petitions and permits them to object.