AR HB1789

Amends Arkansas Code § 5-18-103(a) to add two new offenses to the trafficking of persons statute: recruiting, enticing, soliciting, isolating, harboring, transporting, providing, maintaining, or obtaining a pregnant woman for the purpose of forcing her to place an unborn baby for adoption; and benefiting financially from such activity.

Creates new offense of unlawful solicitation for the relinquishment of parental rights in the first degree, classified as a Class A felony if duress, coercion, undue influence, intimidation, threat, fraud, or physical force is used, or a Class C felony otherwise, when offering prohibited items of value to biological parents or their relatives in exchange for placing an unborn baby for adoption.

Creates new offense of unlawful solicitation for the relinquishment of parental rights in the second degree, classified as a Class D felony if force or coercion is used, or a Class A misdemeanor otherwise, when offering prohibited items of value to biological parents or their relatives in exchange for consenting to adoption of an unborn baby.

References Arkansas Code § 9-9-206 as the authority defining prohibited items of value in adoption transactions.

Bill approved April 15, 2019.