HB 1849 - Interstate Compact on Placement of Children

• Amends Arkansas Code § 9-29-201, Article II to update definitions related to interstate child placement procedures

• Modifies the age threshold for "priority placement" from two (2) years to four (4) years of age, including older siblings placed together

• Expands "priority placement" criteria to include children in emergency shelter placements and cases involving unexpected dependency due to sudden incarceration, incapacitation, or death of a parent or guardian

• Clarifies that "foster care" shall not include placement in residential facilities by a parent when a child welfare agency or court is not involved with an open case or investigation

• Defines "home study" as a written report obtained after household investigation that may include fingerprint-based criminal background checks in national crime information databases and local background checks on household members sixteen (16) years of age and older