SB54 Summary

• Transfers the Division of Dependency-Neglect Parent Representation from the Administrative Office of the Courts to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law Clinical Programs.

• Shifts representation responsibility so the University of Arkansas law school manages parent representation in dependency-neglect cases while the Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission handles child representation.

• Redistributes existing funding from the Administrative Office of the Courts to the University of Arkansas law school for parent representation and to the Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission for juvenile representation.

• Requires the University of Arkansas law school to establish guidelines for maximum expenses and fees per hour and per case, and to advertise employment and contract opportunities for attorneys providing representation.

• Maintains the requirement that courts appoint counsel in compliance with federal law and Supreme Court Administrative Order Number 15, with funding administered through the state or provided to judicial districts based on a formula approved by the Juvenile Judges Committee.