Bill > SB320

This bill amends the Arkansas Juvenile Code by replacing the existing Arkansas Juvenile Code of 1989 (§ 9-27-301 et seq.) with a new Arkansas Juvenile Code (§ 9-35-101 et seq.). The primary change is a comprehensive reorganization and recodification of the existing juvenile law, with the substance of the law largely remaining the same. The bill reorganizes the existing juvenile code into three main subchapters: Family in Need of Services, Dependency and Dependency-Neglect, and a General Provisions section. Key aspects include maintaining the existing definitions, jurisdictional provisions, and procedural requirements for juvenile cases, while updating references and cross-references throughout Arkansas law to reflect the new statutory numbering. The bill does not substantively change the underlying legal framework for handling juvenile cases but provides a more organized and streamlined version of the existing juvenile code. The recodification aims to improve the clarity and organization of Arkansas's juvenile justice statutes without making significant policy changes.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb320&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R