Title 17, Professions, Occupations, and Businesses

Violation of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).

The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration may adopt rules to administer the provisions of this chapter. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any operator which has existed as an operation for at least twenty-five (25) years, and its affiliates, whether now or hereafter, and whose continuing primary function involves the annual organization, promotion, and sponsoring of…

(a) No person shall conduct a beauty pageant in Arkansas unless registered with the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration on forms prescribed by him or her. Registration in another state as a beauty pageant operator shall not be effective in this state. (b) Th…

(a) Except as provided in § 17-21-203, each operator shall, at the time of registration, file and have approved by the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, a bond in which the candidate for registration shall be the principal obligor in the sum of ten thousa…

A bona fide civic club in existence for at least one (1) year, a nonprofit organization, a religious organization or church, a local government entity or school, or any organization auxiliary to or affiliated with such local governmental entities or schools, including, but not li…

(a) If a beauty pageant is canceled or otherwise does not take place, all entrants' fees shall be refunded by the operator. (b) The surety shall be liable for any unrefunded entrants' fees in the case of a default by the operator.

(1) The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration may deny, suspend, or revoke a registration for:(1) A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter; or(2) The making of a false statement on the registration application form. (1) A violation of any of the pr…

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Amateur” means a person who has never received nor competed for any purse or other compensation in an amount that exceeds the sum established by the State Athletic Commission in its rules for:(A) Expenses of training; or(B) Participating in a comb…

(a) A State Athletic Commission is created, which shall consist of seven (7) members who shall be at least twenty-five (25) years of age. (b) (1) Members shall be appointed by the Governor for a term of two (2) years.(2) One (1) of the members of the commission shall be a member …

The State Athletic Commission shall elect one (1) of its members as chair and one (1) of its members as vice chair.

(a) The State Athletic Commission in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Licensing may employ a Director of the State Athletic Commission and fix the salary thereof at a sum not to exceed the maximum annual salary prescribed for such a position in the b…

(a) (1) (A) The State Athletic Commission shall have the sole discretion, management, control, and jurisdiction over all combative sports matches and exhibitions in this state.(B) The commission shall adopt uniform policies, fees, and forms to ensure fair regulation of the combat…

The members of the State Athletic Commission and employees of the commission shall not be personally liable for acts performed in carrying out their official duties except in the case of gross misconduct, and no legal action shall be maintained against any member or employee of t…

The General Assembly finds and declares to be the public policy of this state that it is in the best interest of the public and combative sports that combative sports be subject to an effective and efficient system of strict control and rule in order to protect the safety and wel…

(a) Any person who, after notice and hearing, is found by the State Athletic Commission to have violated any provision of this chapter or any rules of the commission may be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation. (b) T…

(a) Except as provided under § 17-22-204, this chapter applies to combative sports elimination contests in which:(1) The contestants compete for prizes only in combative sports elimination contests and are not:(A) Professional boxers licensed through the Professional Boxing Safet…

(a) All combative sports matches or exhibitions in this state are subject to the requirements of this chapter and the rules of the State Athletic Commission unless exempted by § 17-22-204(a) or § 17-22-101(3)(B). (b) All matches or exhibitions as provided in subsection (a) of thi…

(a) The State Athletic Commission shall have the authority to appoint and issue annual licenses to the following persons with regard to participation in combative sports in this state:(1) A person engaging in combative sports;(2) A promoter of a combative sports match or exhibiti…

(a) No person shall participate in or engage in the promotion of a combative sports match or exhibition in this state without first having obtained a license from the State Athletic Commission. (b) No person shall participate in a combative sports match or exhibition in this stat…

(a) As a condition to the issuance of a license as provided in § 17-22-302, the person applying for the license shall file with the State Athletic Commission a cashier's check, an acceptable letter of credit, or a corporate surety bond in an amount to be established by the commis…

(a) The State Athletic Commission may refuse for good cause to issue a license under § 17-22-302(a). (b) The commission may also revoke for good cause any license granted under authority of this chapter.

(a) (1) Within five (5) business days after a combative sports match or exhibition, the licensed manager, promoter, or person responsible for the combative sports match or exhibition shall furnish to the State Athletic Commission a written report under the penalty of perjury on a…

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) (A) “Dealer” means a person, corporation, partnership, or other entity that engages in the business of purchasing precious metals or precious items, or both, for the purpose of reselling the items in any form.(B) “Dealer” does not include a person,…

(1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:(1) Transactions involving the sale or transfer of precious metals by a wholesale jeweler to a retail jeweler or licensed dealer;(2) Transactions involving coins regardless of whether or not such coins contain pr…

(a) If the value of the property involved in a transaction is five hundred dollars ($500) or less, a person who violates this chapter is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (b) If the value of the property involved in a transaction is greater than five hundred dollars ($500), a pers…

(a) Any person who has been damaged or injured by the failure of a person required to be licensed under this chapter to comply with the provisions of this chapter may recover the actual damages sustained. (b) The court in its discretion may also award punitive damages and the cos…

(a) A person shall not engage in the business of purchasing precious metals or precious items from the general public for the purpose of reselling the precious metals or precious items in any condition without first registering with the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdi…

(a) (1) A dealer shall register with local law enforcement in writing and on the form prescribed by the local law enforcement agency at least twenty-four (24) hours before conducting business in that jurisdiction.(2) The registration shall include:(A) (i) The name of the registra…

(a) A dealer required to register under this chapter shall require the following from each seller of precious metals or precious items:(1) Proof of identification in the form of a valid driver's license, identification card, armed services identification card, or other valid phot…

When a proposed transaction involves the buying of precious metal bulk bullion which appears to have been the result of a melt-down of a former article containing a precious metal, the buyer must first inquire as to what was the source of the item before the melt-down and must no…

Every person required to be licensed under this chapter shall inform the prospective seller of the price per ounce currently being paid for the particular precious metal offered by the prospective seller, and the precious metals shall be weighed in full sight of the prospective s…

(a) Every person registered under this chapter shall keep a record book containing a comprehensive record of all transactions concerning precious metals or precious items. (b) The record shall include:(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the seller;(2) The date of birth…

(a) All persons registered under this chapter shall retain possession of precious metals or precious items in an unaltered condition for fifteen (15) business days after delivering the list to the chief law enforcement officer of the city or town or sheriff of the county as requi…

(1) As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, “collection agency” means any person, partnership, corporation, association, limited liability corporation, or firm that:(1) Engages in the collection of delinquent accounts, bills, or other forms of indebtedness…

(a) This chapter does not apply to:(1) Regular employees of a single creditor;(2) Banks;(3) Trust companies;(4) Savings and loan associations;(5) Abstract companies doing an escrow business;(6) Licensed real estate brokers and agents when the claims or accounts being handled by t…

(a) (1) A collection agency that engages in the business activities of a collection agency without a license issued under this chapter may be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).(2) Each day of a violation of this chapter is a sepa…

(a) A collection agency that fails to remit to its client funds collected for the client within the calendar month following the month of collection, shall not be entitled to a collection fee and shall remit the total funds collected to the client. (b) If a collection agency fail…

When any person, partnership, corporation, or association engages in the business activities of a collection agency without a valid license issued under this chapter or has had the license revoked, suspended, or refused, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the Stat…

(a) (1) There is created a State Board of Collection Agencies composed of five (5) members to be appointed by the Governor.(2) The members of the board:(A) Shall hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified; and(B) May be removed by the Governor for:(i) Lacking compet…

(a) (1) The State Board of Collection Agencies shall meet and shall select from its membership a chair, vice chair, and secretary.(2) No one (1) member of the board shall hold more than one (1) of the offices. (1) The State Board of Collection Agencies shall meet and shall select…

(a) The State Board of Collection Agencies shall have the authority to promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this chapter which are not inconsistent herewith. (b) The board shall use, to the greatest extent possible, the interpretation and construction of the Fair Debt …

(1) Unless licensed by the State Board of Collection Agencies under this subchapter it is unlawful to:(1) Engage in the collection of delinquent accounts, bills, or other forms of indebtedness;(2) Use a fictitious name or any name other than their own in the collection of their o…

(a) The State Board of Collection Agencies shall have the authority to issue a license to an applicant for a license to do business as a collection agency, provided that the applicant meets the following qualifications:(1) The applicant is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;(2…

(a) The State Board of Collection Agencies shall have the authority to require an applicant for a license to submit an application in writing containing such information as it shall deem necessary and pertinent and may require the character and business references which it deems …

(a) All collection agency licenses and collection agency employee licenses shall expire annually on June 30. (b) All licensees under this chapter shall apply for the renewal of their licenses, on forms to be prescribed by the State Board of Collection Agencies, on or before July …