Criminal Offense of Vaccine Harm

If passed, this bill will update a part of the Arkansas Code to add a new section called "Vaccine harm."

Arkansas code: collection of laws passed by the Arkansas state legislature, which is like the legal rulebook for the state

This bill makes clear that vaccine harm is when:

• The person is an executive officer of a pharmaceutical company and at least 18 years old.

  • Executive officer: someone who has a big leadership role.

  • Pharmaceutical company: businesses registered with the Food & Drug Administration for drug-related stuff, but not healthcare providers or places.

• The pharmaceutical company puts a vaccine up for sale

  • Vaccine: Getting medicine through a shot in your arm to help protect against sicknesses.

• The person purposely hides or does not share proof of dangers of the vaccine.

• Someone gets the vaccine and dies or gets seriously hurt

This bill, if passed, would make Vaccine harm considered a felony, with a prison sentence of 1 year to life.

• Felony: A crime that can lead to time in jail if found to be guilty of the crime.

If passed, this bill will establish the "Vaccine Harm Offense Fund," which will include:

• Grant funds from the Federal Government.

• Money from the General Assembly.

  • General Assembly: A group of people who make important decisions for the state of Arkansas.

• Other legally allowed buckets of money.

The Attorney General is in charge of using the fund to support the prosecution of vaccine harm cases.

• Attorney General: The state’s top lawyer and head of law enforcement.

The fund is set to expire, or finish, on December 31, 2026.

Any leftover funds in the Vaccine Harm Offense Fund will go to the General Revenue Fund Account, which is like a savings account for Arkansas, after expiration.