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AR SB306

Bill

Status

Passed

4/10/2017

Primary Sponsor

Alan Clark

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Origin

Senate

91st General Assembly (2017 Regular)

AI Summary

  • Allows unsupervised visitation between juveniles and parents if the court determines health and safety can be adequately protected and it is in the child's best interest, with the petitioner bearing the burden of proving unsupervised visitation is not in the child's best interest.

  • Permits visitation cancellation only if a parent is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, exhibits unsafe behavior, or appears actively impaired at the time of visitation; a positive drug test alone is insufficient to deny visitation.

  • Authorizes relatives or fictive kin to transport juveniles to parental visits if it is in the child's best interest and they pass background checks and driving requirements.

  • Requires the Department of Human Services to provide reasonable accommodations to parents with disabilities to ensure meaningful access to reunification and family preservation services.

  • Specifies that upon termination of parental rights, the department is relieved of reunification service obligations and parents lose the right to notice of or participation in court proceedings concerning the child; appointed counsel may be reappointed if the parent successfully appeals.

Legislative Description

Concerning A Noncustodial Parent's Unsupervised Visitation With His Or Her Child; To Amend Definitions Under The Arkansas Juvenile Code Of 1989; And To Amend The Law On Probable Cause Hearings And The Termination Of Parental Rights.

Last Action

Notification that SB306 is now Act 1111

4/10/2017

Committee Referrals

Judiciary3/31/2017
Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs3/15/2017
Judiciary2/8/2017

Full Bill Text

No bill text available