Senate Bill 28 Summary

• Creates a new capital offense called "rape of a child by forcible compulsion" (§ 5-14-114) for persons 18 years or older, punishable by death or life imprisonment without parole; juveniles receive life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 30 years

• Eliminates statute of limitations for prosecuting rape of a child by forcible compulsion if biological DNA evidence of the alleged perpetrator is identified

• Classifies attempted rape of a child by forcible compulsion as a Class A felony and includes the offense in solicitation and conspiracy statutes as Class A felonies

• Establishes that rape of a child by forcible compulsion is governed by existing capital sentencing procedures (§§ 5-4-601 through 5-4-608) and creates new parole eligibility standards for minors convicted of the offense (§ 16-93-623)

• Makes rape of a child by forcible compulsion a disqualifying offense across numerous licensing, background check, and employment provisions throughout Arkansas Code