AR SB250

Amends Arkansas Juvenile Code § 9-27-303 to change "acts or omissions" to "an act or omission" and clarifies that educational neglect includes failure to ensure a child ages 6-17 is enrolled in school or legally home-schooled, or habitual absence from school without justification.

Amends Child Maltreatment Act § 12-18-103 to add clarification that failure to appropriately supervise a child resulting in dangerous circumstances or risk of harm constitutes neglect, and redefines educational neglect provisions similarly to the Juvenile Code.

Modifies § 12-18-304(g) to specify when the Child Abuse Hotline must accept reports of educational neglect: either when a parent fails to enroll a child ages 6-18 in school or lawful home-schooling, or when parental acts or omissions cause habitual unjustified absences that negatively impact school performance.

Requires that for hotline acceptance of absence-related neglect reports, the absence must not be caused by the child's refusal to attend school.

Approved March 26, 2019.