Title 20 — Public Health and Welfare
63 chapters · 2,838 sections in this title.
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-208 Unlicensed childcare facility unlawful
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(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, group, corporation, organization, or association to operate or assist in the operation of a childcare facility which has not been licensed by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-209 License — Religious exception — Definitions
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(a) Any church or group of churches exempt from the state income tax levied by the Income Tax Act of 1929, § 26-51-101 et seq., when operating a childcare facility shall be exempt from obtaining a license to operate the childcare facility upon the receipt by the Division of Child…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-210 License — Application and issuance
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(a) Any person, partnership, group, corporation, organization, or association desiring to operate a childcare facility shall first make application for a license for a childcare facility to the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education on the application forms furnishe…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-211 License — Provisional
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(a) If the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education finds that an applicant for a childcare facility meets the licensing requirements for a childcare facility in the main and has a reasonable expectation of correcting deficiencies in a reasonable time, then the divisi…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-212 License — Nontransferability
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(a) A license for a childcare facility shall apply only to the address and location stated on the application and license issued, and it shall not be transferable from one holder of the license to another or from one (1) place to another. (b) If the location of a childcare facili…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-213 License — Denial, revocation, or suspension
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(a) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education shall have the power to deny, revoke, or suspend a license for a childcare facility if an applicant or licensee has failed to comply with the provisions of this subchapter or any published rule of the division, subject …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-214 Inspections and investigations of childcare facilities and personnel — Child abuse
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(a) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education or any other agency of the State of Arkansas which the division asks to assist it is authorized to make an inspection and investigation of any proposed or operating childcare facility and of any personnel connected with…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-215 Child sexual abuse — Federal funds — Legislative intent
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(a) (1) By the enactment of this section, it is the specific intent of the General Assembly to ensure that the State of Arkansas may qualify for the maximum amount of federal funds made available through Pub. L. No. 98-473 or any subsequent and related federal legislation enacted…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-216 Records and reports
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The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education may by published rules require that a licensed childcare facility keep and make available to the division records and periodic reports as shall be necessary to assist the division in determining whether the requirements of …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-217 Smoking prohibited — Legislative intent
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(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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-218 Administration of subchapter
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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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-219 Fines and penalties — Disposition of funds
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-220 Persons or facilities abusing juveniles in their custody
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-221 Voluntary registration
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-222 Continuing education
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(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.…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-223 License fees — Disposition
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-224 Child Care Fund
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-225 Child safety alarm devices
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(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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-226 Violation
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-227 General liability insurance coverage required
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-228 Childcare facility floor plan on file with emergency management coordinator — Definition
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(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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-229 Compliance with local regulations — Childcare family homes — Exceptions — Definitions
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-230 Notice requirement when owner, operator, lessee, or administrator of childcare facility is married to sex offender — Definition
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(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)…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-301 Purpose
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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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-302 Authority to enter agreements
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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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-303 Requirements of agreements
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-304 Attorney General approval
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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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-305 Status of agreements
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Every agreement or contract entered into pursuant to this subchapter shall have the status of an interstate compact.
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-501 Creation — Composition — Meetings
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(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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-502 Duties — Assistance
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-503 Arkansas Child Care Facilities Loan Guarantee Trust Fund
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(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)…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-504 Moneys for Arkansas Child Care Facilities Loan Guarantee Trust Fund
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(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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-505 Loan guarantees — Annual report
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-506 Criteria for grant approval
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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).
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-603 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 20-78-603Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-606 Criminal history records checks required — Definitions
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-701 Legislative declaration
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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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-702 Creation — Duties and powers
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(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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-703 Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program Advisory Council
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-704 Freedom of Information Act — Exemption
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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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-705 Patient records
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-706 Limitation
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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.
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-707 Referrals — Findings
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-708 Funding
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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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-801 Credential and endorsement — Definition
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(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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-802 Minimum requirements for a teaching credential
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(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 …
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-803 Professional development
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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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-804 Monitoring and assessment
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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.
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-805 Core courses
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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…
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-79-101 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 20-79-101Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved