The "Best Interest Arkansas Children Act of 2023" aims to amend the existing law regarding the best interest standard in dependency-neglect cases. The act emphasizes the importance of preserving family integrity, protecting children, ensuring timely permanency decisions in foster care, and guiding children towards self-sufficiency. It establishes a clear obligation for the State of Arkansas to define and adhere to the best interest of a child through specific guiding principles.

The bill introduces new legal language to Arkansas Code 9-28-104, which outlines the factors that must be prioritized when determining a child's best interest in juvenile court proceedings. These factors include the importance of family integrity, the child's health and safety, timely permanency decisions, the availability of relative caregivers, and the child's goal of becoming a self-sufficient adult. Additionally, the bill allows the department to create rules to implement these new provisions effectively.

Statutes affected:
HB 1639: 9-28-104