AR HB1909

State agencies and political subdivisions must verify U.S. citizenship and Arkansas residency for applicants age 18+ seeking federal, state, or local public benefits, except where prohibited by federal law

Applicants must attest to citizenship under penalty of perjury; acceptable citizenship documents include certified birth certificates, Certificates of Naturalization, and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad

Residency verification requires documents from at least 6 months prior to application, such as utility bills, bank statements, or Arkansas driver's licenses

Non-citizens who receive public benefits face prosecution for theft of public benefits under § 5-36-202, and benefits provided to non-citizens are recoverable as debt owed to the state

Agencies must report annually to the Legislative Council and Governor on verification results; cases closed due to non-citizenship determinations remain permanently closed