SB 809 Summary

• Establishes dual authority and responsibility for child maltreatment investigations between the Department of Human Services and the Arkansas Department of State Police by amending the definition of "Department" throughout Arkansas Code Chapter 12-18.

• Requires both departments to jointly promulgate rules, implement coordinated multidisciplinary team approaches, establish cooperative agreements with law enforcement and prosecutors, and conduct investigations of child maltreatment reports.

• Applies the dual authority structure to all major functions including the Child Abuse Hotline operations, investigative determinations, notification requirements, administrative hearings, and maintenance of the Child Maltreatment Central Registry.

• Preserves confidentiality protections for reported information and maintains procedures for releasing data only to authorized parties with legitimate interests in child maltreatment cases.

• Approved April 2, 2015.