reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AR Code § 9-27-602 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 27 - Juvenile Courts and Proceedings|Subchapter 6 - Community Mental Health Services for Juveniles|§ 9-27-602. Assessment of juvenile mental health services required

 (a) Prior to the circuit court's ordering a juvenile to an out-of-state residential placement, excluding border state placements as defined by Medicaid, the court shall refer a juvenile for an assessment by the Department of Human Services or the department's designee to include, but not be limited to:  (1)  (A) An assessment of the mental health services for the juvenile and the juvenile's family.  (B) If the assessment recommends that the juvenile cannot remain at home, all appropriate in-state placements currently available that are appropriate to meet the juvenile's mental health needs shall be presented to the court:  (i) With a preference for the juvenile to remain as close to his or her home and community as possible so that his or her family can participate in the family treatment plan;  (ii) That provide for the least restrictive placement ensuring the health and safety of the juvenile;  (iii) That provide an anticipated length of time needed for residential or inpatient treatment; and  (iv) That provide a plan for reintegration of the juvenile into his or her community, including coordination with local providers when the juvenile is released from treatment; and      (2)  (A) The services that could be provided to enable the juvenile to remain safely in his or her home and the availability of such services.  (B) If the assessment recommends that the juvenile cannot be served in the State of Arkansas, the assessment shall:  (i) Specify the reasons why the juvenile cannot be served in the state; and  (ii) Recommend what type of placement the child needs out of state and the reasons for such a recommendation.        (b) The department or its designee shall complete the out-of-state mental health assessment within five (5) business days of referral from the court.  (c) The assessment completed by the department or its designee shall be admitted into evidence, and the court shall consider the assessment in making its determination as to what services and placement should be ordered based on the best interest of the juvenile.  (d)  (1) The court shall make a determination of the ability of the parent, guardian, or custodian of the juvenile to pay in whole or in part for mental health services.  (2) If the court determines an ability to pay, the court shall enter such an order for payment pursuant to § 9-27-333(e).
AR Code § 9-27-603 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 27 - Juvenile Courts and Proceedings|Subchapter 6 - Community Mental Health Services for Juveniles|§ 9-27-603. Mental health assessment — Requirements

 (a) When a mental health screening or assessment is provided to the juvenile division of a circuit court, the screening or assessment shall include, but not be limited to, the following:  (1) The mental health services needed for the juvenile and the juvenile's family; and  (2) The services that could be provided to enable the juvenile to remain safely in his or her home and the availability of such services.    (b) If the screening or assessment recommends that the juvenile cannot remain safely in his or her home, then the screening or assessment shall state the recommended type of residential treatment or inpatient treatment that is needed for the juvenile that:  (1) Meets the treatment needs of the juvenile;  (2) Allows the juvenile to remain as close to his or her home and community as possible so that his or her family can participate in the treatment plan;  (3) Provides for the least restrictive placement ensuring the health and safety of the juvenile;  (4) Provides an anticipated length of time needed for residential or inpatient treatment; and  (5) Provides a plan for the reintegration of the juvenile into his or her community, including coordination with local providers when the juvenile is released from residential or inpatient treatment.
AR Code § 9-27-701 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 27 - Juvenile Courts and Proceedings|Subchapter 7 - Commission for Parent Counsel|§ 9-27-701. Legislative intent

 It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide for representation for parents of a minor who is the subject of a dependency-neglect case in the juvenile division of circuit court.
AR Code § 9-27-702 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 27 - Juvenile Courts and Proceedings|Subchapter 7 - Commission for Parent Counsel|§ 9-27-702. Definitions

 As used in this subchapter, “parent” means the same as under § 9-27-303, and “parent” also includes a guardian as defined under § 9-27-303 and a custodian as defined under § 9-27-303.
AR Code § 9-27-704 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 27 - Juvenile Courts and Proceedings|Subchapter 7 - Commission for Parent Counsel|§ 9-27-704. Powers and duties of the Commission for Parent Counsel — Funding formula — Liability

 (a)  (1) The Commission for Parent Counsel shall enter into contracts with attorneys in order to provide counsel required by the circuit court in certain cases in the juvenile division of circuit court for a parent of a minor subject to a juvenile case.  (2) The Commission for Parent Counsel may employ or enter into independent professional service contracts with attorneys to represent a parent at the trial court level as well as at the appellate level.  (3) The Commission for Parent Counsel shall establish a funding formula to determine how an attorney is paid under this subchapter.    (b)  (1) The Commission for Parent Counsel may hire or appoint an executive director who shall hire all staff required to implement this subchapter and shall advertise employment and contract opportunities.  (2) The Executive Director of the Commission for Parent Counsel shall report directly to the Commission for Parent Counsel.  (3)  (A) The executive director is authorized to employ or enter into professional service contracts with private individuals or businesses or public agencies to represent all parents in dependency-neglect proceedings.  (B) An attorney obtaining employment or entering into a contract with the Commission for Parent Counsel shall be designated as the provider for representation of parents in dependency-neglect cases in each judicial district.  (C) An attorney appointed to represent a parent in a dependency-neglect proceeding shall comply with Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 15 concerning standards and qualifications.    (4) The executive director is charged with the authority and responsibility to establish and maintain a program that:  (A) Equitably serves all areas of the state;  (B) Provides quality representation; and  (C) Equitably and prudently makes use of state funding and resources.      (c) In order to ensure that each judicial district will have an appropriate amount of funds to utilize for indigent parent or custodian representation in dependency-neglect cases, the funds appropriated under this subchapter shall be apportioned based upon a formula developed by the executive director and approved by the Commission for Parent Counsel.  (d) Neither the Arkansas Public Defender Commission nor the Commission for Parent Counsel is liable directly or indirectly to any attorney or to the Arkansas State Claims Commission for the payment of attorney's fees or expenses except to the extent specific funding is appropriated and available for the purpose of providing indigent parent counsel in dependency-neglect cases.
AR Code § 9-27-705 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 27 - Juvenile Courts and Proceedings|Subchapter 7 - Commission for Parent Counsel|§ 9-27-705. Rulemaking permitted

 The Commission for Parent Counsel may establish rules not otherwise addressed by this subchapter for its own governing for the administrative affairs of the commission and to effectuate the intent of this subchapter.
AR Code § 9-28-101 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-101. Legislative intent and purpose

 The General Assembly recognizes that the state has a responsibility to protect children from abuse and neglect by providing services and supports that promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of the children and families of Arkansas.
AR Code § 9-28-102 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-102. Creation of the Division of Children and Family Services

 There is created the Division of Children and Family Services within the Department of Human Services.
AR Code § 9-28-103 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-103. Division of Children and Family Services — Powers and duties

 (a) The Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services shall perform the following functions and have the authority and responsibility to:  (1) Coordinate communication between various components of the child welfare system;  (2) Provide services to dependent-neglected children and their families;  (3) Investigate reports of child maltreatment and assess the health, safety, and well-being of the child during the investigation;  (4) Provide services, when appropriate, designed to allow a maltreated child to safely remain in his or her home;  (5) Protect a child when remaining in the home presents an immediate danger to the health, safety, or well-being of the child;  (6) Ensure child placements support the goal of permanency for children when the division is responsible for the placement and care of a child; and  (7) Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children when the division is responsible for the placement and care of a child.    (b) The division may promulgate rules necessary to administer this subchapter.
AR Code § 9-28-104 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-104. Best interest of the child

 (a) The General Assembly recognizes that children are defenseless and that there is no greater moral obligation upon the General Assembly than to provide for the protection of our children and that our child welfare system needs to be strengthened by establishing a clear policy of the state that the best interests of the children must be paramount and shall have precedence at every stage of juvenile court proceedings.  (b) The best interest of the child shall be the standard for recommendations made by employees of the Department of Human Services as to whether a child should be reunited with his or her family or removed from or remain in a home wherein the child has been abused or neglected.
AR Code § 9-28-105 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-105. Preference to relative caregivers for a child in foster care

 In all custodial placements by the Department of Human Services in foster care or adoption, preferential consideration shall be given to an adult relative over a nonrelated caregiver, if:   (1) The relative caregiver meets all relevant child protection standards; and  (2) It is in the best interest of the child to be placed with the relative caregiver.
AR Code § 9-28-106 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-106. Religious preference — Removal of barriers to inter-ethnic adoption

 (a) The Department of Human Services and any other agency or entity that receives federal assistance and is involved in adoption or foster care placement shall not:  (1) Discriminate on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of either the adoptive parent, foster parent, or the child involved; or  (2) Delay the placement of a child on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the adoptive parent or foster parent.    (b) If a child's genetic parent or parents express a preference for placing the child in a foster home or an adoptive home of the same or a similar religious background to that of the genetic parent or parents, the department shall:  (1) Place the child with a family that meets the genetic parent's religious preference; or  (2) If a family with the same or a similar religious background is not available, to a family of a different religious background that is knowledgeable and appreciative of the child's religious background.
AR Code § 9-28-107 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-107. Notice when juvenile transferred to custody of department

 (a) The Department of Human Services shall exercise due diligence to identify and provide notice to all adult grandparents, all parents of a sibling of the juvenile where the parent has legal custody of the sibling, and other adult relatives of a juvenile transferred to the custody of the department.  (b) The notice provided under this subsection shall:  (1) Be provided within thirty (30) days after the juvenile is transferred to the custody of the department; and  (2) Include adult grandparents or adult relatives suggested by the parent or parents of the juvenile.    (c) The department is not required to provide notice under subsection (b) of this section to an adult grandparent or other adult relative if the adult grandparent or other adult relative has:  (1) A pending charge or past conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere for family or domestic violence; or  (2) A true finding of child maltreatment in the Child Maltreatment Central Registry.    (d) The notice required under subsection (b) of this section shall state:  (1) That the juvenile has been or is being removed from the parent;  (2) The option to participate in the:  (A) Care of the child;  (B) Placement with the child; and  (C) Visitation with the child;    (3) That failure to respond to the notice may result in loss of options listed under subdivision (d)(2) of this section;  (4) The requirements to become a provisional foster home and the additional services and supports that are available for children in a foster home; and  (5) That if kinship guardianship is available, how the relative could enter into a kinship guardianship agreement with the department.    (e) The department may provide notice of a juvenile transferred to the custody of the department to persons who have a strong, positive emotional tie to the juvenile and have a positive role in the juvenile's life but are not related by blood, adoption, or marriage.  (f)  (1) As used in this section, a “sibling” includes an individual who would have been considered a sibling of the child but for a termination or other disruption of parental rights.  (2) This section shall not be construed as subordinating the rights of foster or adoptive parents of a child to the rights of the parents of a sibling of that child.
AR Code § 9-28-110 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-110. Smoking in the presence of foster children

 The Department of Human Services shall not place or permit a child to remain in a foster home, unless it is in the best interest of the child to be placed in or to remain in the foster home, if the foster parent:   (1) Or any other member of the household smokes; or  (2) Allows an individual to smoke in the presence of a foster child.
AR Code § 9-28-112 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-112. Foster children and educational issues

 (a) The Department of Human Services and school districts shall work together for the best interest of any child placed in the custody of the department.  (b) By the next business day after the department exercises a seventy-two-hour hold on a child or a court places custody of a child with the department, the department shall inform the child's current school district, regardless of whether the child remains at his or her current school, that:  (1) The department has exercised a seventy-two-hour hold on the child; or  (2) The court has placed the child in the custody of the department.    (c) By the next business day after a foster child transfers to a new placement, the department shall notify the child's current school that the foster child has transferred to a new placement.  (d) By the next business day after the department reasonably believes that a foster child has experienced a traumatic event, the department may notify the school counselor of the child that the department reasonably believes that the foster child has experienced a traumatic event.  (e) By the next business day after the department knows that a foster child has experienced a traumatic event through an investigation or an ongoing protective services case, the department may notify the school counselor of the child of the traumatic event that the department has knowledge of through an investigation or an ongoing protective services case.  (f) The school counselor of the child may share information reported to the counselor under subsections (d) and (e) of this section with the school principal and the teachers of the child, if appropriate.  (g)  (1) The department or its designee, who may be a foster parent, shall make educational decisions for a child in the custody of the department related to general educational matters, subject to limitation only by the court having jurisdiction of the custody matter.  (2) For educational matters under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., a foster parent may make decisions for a child in the custody of the department.
AR Code § 9-28-115 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-115. Immunity — Definition

 (a) A foster parent approved by a child placement agency licensed by the Department of Human Services shall not be liable for:  (1) Damages caused by a foster child; or  (2) Injuries to a foster child caused by acts or omissions of the foster parents unless the acts or omissions constitute malicious, willful, wanton, or grossly negligent conduct.    (b) A volunteer approved by the department to transport a foster child or client of the department or to supervise visits at the request of the department shall not be liable to a foster child, the client, or the parent or guardian of a foster child for injuries to a foster child or client caused by the acts or omissions of a volunteer unless the acts or omissions constitute malicious, willful, wanton, or grossly negligent conduct.  (c) An approved volunteer who performs home studies without compensation shall have immunity from liability as provided for state officers and employees under § 19-10-305. As used in this subsection, “approved volunteer” means a volunteer approved by:  (1) The department; and  (2) Any organization operating under a memorandum of understanding with the department for the completion of home studies.
AR Code § 9-28-116 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-116. Restrictions on foster and adoptive parents

 (a)  (1) A child in the custody of the Department of Human Services shall not be placed in an approved home of any foster parent or adoptive parent unless all household members eighteen and one-half (18½) years of age and older, excluding children in foster care, have been checked with the Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police at a minimum of every two (2) years for convictions of the offenses listed in this subchapter and in § 9-28-409.  (2) Youths in a household who turn eighteen (18) years of age are not required to have a criminal background check until six (6) months after turning eighteen (18) years of age.    (b) A child in the custody of the Department of Human Services shall not be placed in an approved home of any foster or adoptive parent unless all household members eighteen and one-half (18½) years of age and older, excluding children in foster care, have a fingerprint-based criminal background check performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in compliance with federal law and regulation for convictions of the offenses listed in this subchapter and in § 9-28-409.  (c) A foster child in the custody of the Department of Human Services, or a foster child in the custody of another state, shall not be placed in the home of any Arkansas foster or adoptive parent if the criminal records check reveals a felony conviction for:  (1) Child abuse or neglect;  (2) Spousal abuse or domestic battery;  (3) A crime against children, including child pornography;  (4) A crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, but not including other physical assault or battery; or  (5) Aggravated assault on a family or household member.    (d) A foster child in the custody of the Department of Human Services, or a foster child in the custody of another state, shall not be placed in the home of any foster or adoptive parent if the criminal record check reveals a felony conviction for physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense if the offense was committed within the past five (5) years.
AR Code § 9-28-117 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-117. Authority to obtain local criminal background checks

 (a) Local law enforcement shall provide the Department of Human Services with criminal background information on persons who have applied to be a provisional foster home, a regular foster home, or an adoptive home for the department upon request from the department.  (b) Local law enforcement shall provide the department with criminal background information on persons whose home is being studied by the department upon request from the department.
AR Code § 9-28-118 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 9 - Family Law|Subtitle 3 - Minors|Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention|Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services|§ 9-28-118. Training hours for employees

 All division caseworkers, supervisors, and area directors shall have at least one (1) hour of annual training on issues related to:   (1) Separation and placement; and  (2) The grief and loss that children experience in foster care with multiple placements.