Title 20, Public Health and Welfare

(a) Whereas, health authorities have established that smoking is not conducive to good health and that children exposed to smoking face a potential health hazard, therefore, it is the intent of the Seventy-Fifth General Assembly to ban smoking in the physical confines of the day …

The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education shall continue to be the administrative agency to administer the provisions of this subchapter in accordance with the rules and standards for the licensing and operation of childcare facilities as promulgated by the divisio…

(a) If any licensee fails to pay any monetary fine imposed as a civil penalty within sixty (60) days of the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education's decision imposing the penalty, the amount of the fine shall be considered to be a debt owed the State of Arkansas and…

(a) If a juvenile is found to be abused or neglected due to the acts or omissions of a person other than the parent or guardian of the juvenile, the court may enter an order restraining or enjoining the person or facility employing that person from providing care, training, educa…

(a) Registry. There shall be created a voluntary registry of day care family homes that are not required by this subchapter to be licensed by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. The registry shall be maintained by the division. (b) Procedure for Registration…

(a) (1) All persons employed by a childcare facility who work directly with children shall receive at least ten (10) hours per year of continuing early childhood education as approved by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services.…

(a) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services shall not issue or maintain a license to a childcare facility unless the license fee is paid at the annual licensing or renewal date. The license fee is:(1) Fifteen dollars ($15.00) p…

(a) There is established on the books of the Treasurer of State, the Auditor of State, and the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, the Child Care Fund, to be administered by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services. (b) The divis…

(a) All agencies or childcare facilities licensed by the Department of Human Services under this subchapter or the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Act, § 9-28-401 et seq., that transport children shall have approved child safety alarm devices installed on any vehicles designed or …

(a) It shall be unlawful to transport children in a vehicle that is required to have an approved child safety alarm device as provided under § 20-78-225 if the approved child safety alarm device:(1) Has not been installed;(2) Is not in proper working condition; or(3) Has been dis…

(a) The purpose of this section is to enhance safe and responsible passenger transportation of children in child care by requiring appropriate liability insurance and driver training. (b) (1) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Serv…

(a) (1) As used in this section, “floor plan” means a document containing:(A) A schematic drawing of facilities and property used by the childcare facility, including the configuration of rooms, spaces, and other physical features of buildings;(B) The location or locations where …

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Childcare family home” means a childcare setting in which the caregiver provides child care in a family residence or a residence with a homelike environment; and(2) “Local governing authority” means the governing body of the municipality or county…

(a) As used in this section, “sex offender” means a:(1) Level 2 sex offender whose information is made public under § 12-12-913(j)(1)(B);(2) Level 3 sex offender; or(3) Level 4 sex offender. (1) Level 2 sex offender whose information is made public under § 12-12-913(j)(1)(B); (2)…

It is the purpose of this subchapter to permit the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services to cooperate with public agencies or private nonprofit organizations of adjoining states to provide services for residents of Arkansas that are in need …

Subject to the conditions and limitations contained in this subchapter, the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services may enter into agreements with public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, or combinations thereof from adjoining states …

(1) Every agreement or contract entered into in accordance with this subchapter shall specify the following:(1) Full names and addresses of all parties to the agreement;(2) The precise organization, composition, and nature of the legal or the administrative entity that will be pr…

Every agreement made hereunder shall, before and as a condition precedent to its entry into force, may at the discretion of the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services, be submitted to the Attorney General, who shall determine whether the agre…

Every agreement or contract entered into pursuant to this subchapter shall have the status of an interstate compact.

(a) (1) There is hereby established the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission, to be composed of eleven (11) members.(2) The Chair of the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission shall be selected annually by majority vote of the commission. (1) There is hereby established the Arkansas …

(a) The Arkansas Early Childhood Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities and shall annually report its progress toward the following:(1) Advising the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education on the administration of the Arkansas Child Care Faci…

(a) (1) There is established a cash fund account of the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Education to be known as the “Arkansas Child Care Facilities Loan Guarantee Trust Fund”.(2) The cash fund account established under subdivision (a)(1)…

(a) (1) After providing for the exclusion of the interest income classified as special revenues as authorized by §§ 15-41-110 and 27-70-204, and for the first two million dollars ($2,000,000) of interest income received each fiscal year by the Treasurer of State as authorized in …

(a) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education is authorized to develop and implement, with the technical assistance of the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission, necessary rules to receive, review, and approve applications for loan deficiency guarantee assistance for…

The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services is authorized to develop and implement criteria for grant approval of interest moneys to be used as authorized in § 20-78-503(d).

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Registry records check” means the review of one (1) or more database systems maintained by a state agency that contain information relative to a person's suitability for licensure or certification as a service provider or employment with a service…

The General Assembly hereby finds that, in order to adequately care for their newborns and young children, new mothers may often benefit from receiving professional assistance and information. Without the assistance and information, a young mother may develop habits or practices …

(a) The Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program is established and shall be administered by the Department of Health. (b) The department shall implement the Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation model developed by …

(a) There is created the Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program Advisory Council. (b) The council shall consist of eleven (11) members to be appointed by the Governor as follows:(1) Three (3) members from the Department of Health to be appoint…

The Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program is expressly exempted from the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq., and is prohibited from supplying any information by individual name or other personal identifier or in a form ot…

(a) All institutions receiving state or federal support and with patient records containing information pertaining to participating first-time mothers shall be required to share information in those records with the Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitat…

Nothing performed pursuant to this subchapter shall be deemed to constitute the practice of home health care as defined in § 20-10-801 et seq.

(a) Any physician, clinic, person, or organization may provide information and referrals to the Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program. (b) No liability of any kind or character for damages or other relief shall arise or be enforced against an…

The Secretary of the Department of Health is authorized to utilize available general revenue savings and allowable federal funds in support of the activities described in this subchapter in the event that sufficient funds are not allocated for the Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Ea…

(a) (1) A person teaching in a public early childhood education program may obtain a birth through prekindergarten teaching credential from the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services.(2) Subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall no…

(1) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services shall develop a birth through prekindergarten teaching credential that requires without limitation that the applicant:(1) Meet a minimum educational level; and(2) (A) Complete a core …

A person holding a birth through prekindergarten teaching credential under this subchapter shall complete a minimum number of hours of professional development in early childhood development or early childhood education as determined by the Division of Child Care and Early Childh…

The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services shall periodically monitor and assess a person holding a birth through prekindergarten teaching credential as the division may determine by rule.

In consultation with the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services and the state-supported institutions of higher education in this state, the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall establish a minimum core of early child…

The Director of the Division of State Services for the Blind is authorized and empowered to employ caseworkers for the blind, prepare rules governing personnel standards, define the duties of the caseworkers for the blind, and make such other rules as may be necessary to carry ou…

This subchapter may be cited as the “Rehabilitation Act of Arkansas”.

(a) (1) It is declared to be the policy of the State of Arkansas to provide needed and feasible rehabilitation services to eligible individuals with a disability throughout the state to the end that they may engage in useful and remunerative occupations to the extent of their cap…

(1) As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Employment disability” means a physical or mental condition which constitutes, contributes to, or if not corrected will probably result in a substantial impairment of occupational performance;(2) “Establis…

(a) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services shall be administered, under the general supervision and direction of the Division of Workforce Services, by a commissioner, appointed in accordance with established personnel standards and on the basis of education, training, experience, and …

(1) The Director of the Division of Workforce Services shall provide the rehabilitation services authorized by this subchapter to persons with physical or intellectual disabilities, including blind citizens and those who can benefit from independent living services, as determined…

(a) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services is authorized to utilize funds made available:(1) From appropriations by the United States Congress;(2) By appropriations by the General Assembly;(3) From the disbursement of funds of other state agencies; and(4) By gifts, grants, fees for ser…