Arkansas National Guard State Active Duty Protections and Death Benefit

Federal protections follow federal orders. These Arkansas laws cover the time a Guard member serves the state. Death and disability benefit. Arkansas Code section 21-5-701 lists a "member of the Arkansas National Guard on state active duty" among covered public employees. Section 21-5-704 has the state pay $50,000 to the beneficiaries of a covered public employee killed in the official line of duty, to the designated beneficiary or, if none, split between the spouse and dependent children or passed to children or parents. A covered employee totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty receives $10,000. Claims go to the Arkansas State Claims Commission. Act 414 of 2025 raised the additional line of duty payment in section 21-5-705 from $150,000 to $250,000, but that additional sum is for police, firefighters and similar employees and does not name the Guard. The children of a Guard member killed on state active duty are covered by the Heroes Scholarship. Civil relief on state orders. Sections 12-62-701 to 12-62-718 give an Arkansas Guard soldier or airman, and spouse, protections like the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act if ordered to state active duty or Title 32 duty by the Governor for more than 180 continuous days, or for any length of time under an Emergency Management Assistance Compact or a gubernatorial proclamation. They include a 6 percent interest cap on pre-service debts, stays of proceedings, protection from default judgments, eviction and foreclosure. Section 12-62-705 lets the member or spouse end a residential lease after such orders, a permanent change of station more than 50 miles away, or an honourable release after 180 continuous days, on written notice with the current and next month's rent. Family grants. The Military Family Relief Trust Fund, fed by a check-off on the state income tax return under section 26-51-2506, funds grants by the Adjutant General to members and families of the National Guard and the reserve components, based on need and pay grade. Life insurance. The Army benefits library (re-read 2026-10-24) describes state-sponsored group life insurance through the National Guard Association of Arkansas, including $1,000 of free coverage for every member and $10,000 free for a new member's first year; that is an association product, not a statutory benefit, so ask the association (501-758-6422) for its current terms.