Bill > SB325

This bill makes several key changes to Arkansas laws regarding child welfare and the Child Maltreatment Central Registry. First, it modifies the process for parents whose parental rights have been terminated to potentially resume services and seek reinstatement of those rights, reducing the waiting period from three to two years and allowing the parent themselves to file a motion to resume services. The bill also introduces more flexible provisions for reinstatement, including the ability to grant custody to a parent whose rights were previously terminated if it is in the child's best interest, even without a traditional home study. Additionally, the bill narrows the Child Maltreatment Central Registry to only include records of true investigative determinations of abuse, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation, explicitly excluding records of neglect or abandonment. The legislation also creates a new mechanism for an offender to request a review of a true determination if more than five years have passed since the original investigation, allowing for potential reconsideration based on current risk assessment. These changes aim to provide more opportunities for family reunification while also maintaining safeguards for child safety.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb325&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R