The proposed legislation seeks to transfer the Child Welfare Ombudsman Division and the Juvenile Ombudsman Division from their current affiliations with the Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission and the Arkansas Public Defender Commission to a newly established Division of Ombudsmen within the Department of Inspector General. This bill creates the positions of Child Welfare Ombudsman and Juvenile Ombudsman, who will report directly to the Secretary of the Department of Inspector General. It also repeals existing statutes related to the previous divisions, specifically Arkansas Code 16-87-216 and 20-82-211, which defined the roles and responsibilities of these divisions. The restructuring aims to enhance oversight and accountability within Arkansas's child welfare system by ensuring the Ombudsmen operate independently from various state agencies.

The bill outlines the responsibilities of the newly established offices, including informing the public about their functions, preparing annual reports on the child welfare system, and ensuring confidentiality for juveniles. The Child Welfare Ombudsman will focus on public education and reporting, while the Juvenile Ombudsman will monitor the Division of Youth Services and ensure juveniles have access to grievance processes. Both offices are required to submit annual reports to state officials without identifying juveniles or their families. Additionally, the bill allows for communication with juveniles and their parents, access to juvenile case information, and unannounced visits to facilities. An emergency clause is included, making the act effective on July 1, 2025, to facilitate a smooth transition and continued service provision during the transfer.

Statutes affected:
HB 1964: 16-87-216, 25-19-101, 20-82-211, 9-27-301, 12-18-101, 9-27-303, 9-28-407
Act 825: 16-87-216, 25-19-101, 20-82-211, 9-27-301, 12-18-101, 9-27-303, 9-28-407