HB 1639 Summary

• Establishes the "Best Interest Arkansas Children Act of 2023" to define statutory guiding principles for determining a child's best interest in dependency-neglect cases

• Amends Arkansas Code § 9-28-104 to require the department and juvenile court to give precedence to five factors when determining best interest: family integrity and preference for keeping children in their home; child health, safety, and protection; timely permanency decisions; availability of relative caregivers; and the goal of child self-sufficiency

• Authorizes the department to promulgate rules to implement the new best interest standard

• Declares the state's obligation to ensure the best interest of a child is clearly defined and adhered to in foster care and dependency-neglect proceedings