For over 20 years, Arkansas has required Licensing for Private Investigators, Private Security Guards, Polygraph Administrators, and Security System Installers, as well as Company licensing for any company involved in these businesses.  In September, 2015 the State of Arkansas abolished the licensing board and put all licensing directly under the purvey of the Arkansas State Police. According to a recent report on Arkansasmatters.com, a service of KARK, (http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/hundreds-lose-licenses-over-laws-unintended-consequence) over 200 people have had their professional licenses revoked, or not renewed due to an error made in the House Resolution which abolished the board and granted all authority to the Arkansas State Police.

    The problem lies with what the Legislature admits was an error in the wording of the bill. There was no provision made for individual consideration of licensing for anyone with a prior Class A Misdemeanor. In the past, these were looked at individually by our board. Persons who have demonstrated that (despite a youthful indiscretion) they are valuable, trusted members of our society, had been able to appeal to the board (and if approved ) receive their license. Infractions as minor as theft of a candy bar, possessing a small amount of marijuana, or in some cases a single DWI can be construed as a Class A misdemeanor. While we certainly don't condone any of these, I personally know very few people who have not committed as meaningless a crime as these. Most of course were not caught, but that does nothing to lessen their guilt.

    On April 14th, 2016 a resolution (HR1006) was introduced and read by Rep. John T. Vines of District 25 to address the oversight in the wording of the September 2015 bill which has cost so many deserving Arkansans their livelihood. The Bill was read and subsequently sent to The House Committee on Rules.  The resolution now lays in wait for the Committee to take action on it. 

    This resolution needs immediate action to avoid the loss of many more jobs, and to enable those affected by the prior one to petition and re-establish their good names, as well as provide the necessary services they had been providing: Many for several years before being denied the ability to continue.