AR HB1153

Establishes "Samantha's Law" to increase consideration of juveniles' preferences in foster care and family time decisions regardless of chronological age, provided the juvenile is of sufficient age and capacity to reason.

Amends Arkansas Code § 9-27-325(o)(2)(D) to allow courts to consider juvenile preferences in supervised visitation/family time matters without age restrictions based on maturity and reasoning ability.

Requires minimum of 4 hours of supervised family time per week for parents whose custody has been removed, unless the court determines it is not in the juvenile's best interest or would impose extreme hardship.

Amends Arkansas Code § 9-27-355(b) and § 9-28-108(e) to permit courts to consider juvenile placement preferences based on sufficient age and capacity to reason, regardless of chronological age.

Clarifies that the Department of Human Services ceases to be legal custodian when a juvenile leaves its custody and custody is granted to a parent or another person, even if court retains jurisdiction.