Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — In a 99-0 vote Monday, the House approved legislation designed to ease the requirements for a stalking arrest in Arkansas.

House Bill 1545 by Rep. Dawn Creekmore, D-East End, would change the definition of stalking in current law to remove some of the conditions that must be met for a charge to be filed, including the condition that incidents must occur at least 36 hours apart but within a year of each other.

Creekmore said she was asked to file the bill by stalking victims who told her they were afraid because “law enforcement had repeatedly told them that there was nothing that could be done because their hands were tied due to the fact that there were so many conditions that had to be met.”

The bill also would create a misdemeanor stalking offense in addition to the existing felony charge. Creekmore said law enforcement officers could use the misdemeanor charge to warn stalkers before they become violent.

The bill goes to the Senate.