AR SB497

Establishes the Director of the Division of Youth Services as the compact administrator for Arkansas under the Interstate Compact for Juveniles, with the Division providing administrative support to the Arkansas State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision

Requires law enforcement agencies and the Division of Children and Family Services to notify the compact administrator when they have physical custody of a runaway juvenile believed to be from another state and provide information including the juvenile's name, delinquency status, home address, and willingness to return home

Directs the compact administrator to assist in finding appropriate placement for runaway juveniles while their return to the home state is processed

Assigns cost responsibility for placement and intrastate transportation to the county where charges are pending for juveniles charged with delinquent or criminal offenses, or to the Division of Youth Services for uncharged juveniles

Authorizes the Division of Youth Services to pay interstate transportation costs for runaway juveniles when costs are not covered by the juvenile's legal custodian, while exempting the Division of Children and Family Services from placement and transportation responsibilities