Senate Bill 218 Summary

• Adds new subchapter 9-28-1101 through 9-28-1103 to Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 28 defining the partnership between Division of Youth Services (DYS) and community-based youth service providers

• Establishes that DYS contracts with nonprofit community-based programs serving delinquent youth, families in need of services, and at-risk youth as quasi-governmental instrumentalities providing services the state would otherwise provide directly

• Requires DYS to acquire services through agreements with local community providers who have at least 5 years of experience and provide nine core services: prevention, intervention, casework, treatment, counseling, observation and assessment, case management, residential services, and sanction services

• Prohibits DYS from requiring competitive bids for professional services contracts in the community-based youth services field

• Declares an emergency effective date upon Governor approval to allow existing community-based providers to avoid competitive bidding processes