§ 12-8-506 - Oversight. - Arkansas Statutes

12-8-506. Oversight.

(a) (1) (A) When the Department of Arkansas State Police assumes responsibility for the Child Abuse Hotline and child abuse investigations under this subchapter, either through transfer or by contract, an oversight system shall be created to review:

(i) The administration of the Child Abuse Hotline;

(ii) The conduct of child abuse investigations;

(iii) Interagency cooperation in regard to the allocation of responsibility for various types of child abuse investigations; and

(iv) Service delivery to children and families.

(B) The oversight system shall utilize the same criteria by which the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services has been measured as stipulated in the settlement of Angela R. v. State of Arkansas.

(2) The House Subcommittee on Children and Youth of the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Children and Youth shall conduct the review and evaluation with the assistance of six (6) ex officio members with professional experience in the performance of activities involving child abuse and neglect, to be appointed jointly by the chairs of the House Subcommittee on Children and Youth of the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Children and Youth from a list of nominees submitted by the professional associations of the respective members, as follows:

(A) One (1) ex officio member shall be a pediatrician;

(B) One (1) ex officio member shall be a social worker;

(C) One (1) ex officio member shall be a guardian ad litem;

(D) One (1) ex officio member shall be a foster parent;

(E) One (1) ex officio member shall be an educator; and

(F) One (1) ex officio member shall be a law enforcement officer.

(b) (1) The oversight system established in subsection (a) of this section shall commence within one (1) month of the assumption of the responsibility for the Child Abuse Hotline and child abuse investigations by the Department of Arkansas State Police, either by contract or through transfer.

(2) The Department of Arkansas State Police shall submit reports regarding the administration of the Child Abuse Hotline and the conduct of child abuse investigations at least quarterly or more often as determined by the House Subcommittee on Children and Youth of the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Children and Youth.