TO MOVE THE CHILD WELFARE OMBUDSMAN DIVISION AND THE JUVENILE OMBUDSMAN DIVISION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Arkansas moves oversight offices for children

The law moves Arkansas’s child welfare and juvenile ombudsman offices from the Public Defender Commission to the Department of Inspector General. Both offices sit within a new Division of Ombudsmen and report to the department’s secretary. The law repeals their former statutes, including the juvenile ombudsman’s former qualifications, powers, and duties for overseeing youth services. The Child Welfare Ombudsman operates independently of Human Services, State Police, the courts’ administrative office, and the Public Defender Commission. It also operates independently of the Attorney Ad Litem, Parent Counsel, and Court Appointed Special Advocates programs. It reviews concerns involving children, parents, foster parents, relatives, and close family-like caregivers in juvenile cases or investigations. It recommends changes to child welfare laws and procedures and must publish its contact information. It can view court database documents for matters under review, but attorney approval and attorney-set conditions govern communication with children or parents. Its annual report must cover its work, the child welfare system, and recommendations without identifying children or their families. Reports go to the Governor, the designated House and Senate children’s committees, Human Services, Children and Family Services, State Police, court administrators, Attorney Ad Litem, Public Defender, and Court Appointed Special Advocates. The supplied summaries conflict on timing: the act declares immediate effect, while the juvenile repeal provision lists July 1, 2025.