AR HB1654

Limits confidentiality protections in Arkansas Code § 20-78-106(a) to records kept by children's advocacy centers, hospitals, and clinics during child abuse or neglect investigations.

Removes images of a child's breast, genitals, or anus from the list of items with a reasonable expectation of privacy in Section 1(8), allowing release under subsection (c).

Maintains protection for images of a child's breast, genitals, or anus in Section 2 by adding them to the items requiring protective court orders to prevent distribution without legitimate interest.

Authorizes record release to attorneys, law enforcement, courts, licensing authorities, the Department of Human Services, and other specified entities upon appropriate legal findings or court orders.

Permits medical records and information release to providers of medical or psychiatric care to abused children and allows use for instructional purposes at Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, or child advocacy centers.