The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Malicious cyber activity continues to grow rapidly;
(2) Critical infrastructure and state networks are primary targets for hackers, including transnational organized crime and national and state actors;
(3) Arkansas is home to national and global private-sector companies that are considerable targets in the financial services, food and supply chain, and electric grid sectors;
(4) As the private sector owns and operates the vast majority of the critical infrastructure in the United States, including Arkansas, it is critical that a cyber-capability response involve private sector companies;
(5) The Arkansas Cyber Initiative will be part of the newly formed American Cyber Alliance and will develop cyber capacity in Arkansas with regard to innovation, workforce development, and intelligence and operations; and
(6) The Arkansas Cyber Initiative will help mitigate cyber risks in Arkansas, develop educational best practices, provide enhanced threat assessment and response capabilities for public and private sectors in Arkansas, and advance opportunities for economic development in Arkansas.
Structure Arkansas Code