§ 12-18-601 — Assignment to investigative agency

(a) (1) If a report of child maltreatment is accepted by the Child Abuse Hotline, an investigation shall be conducted under procedures established by the Department of Human Services unless the report is accepted for triage under subdivision (a)(2)(C) of this section. (2) The procedures established by the Department of Human Services shall require the: (A) Assignment of a report of child maltreatment to the Department of Human Services or the Division of Arkansas State Police as the investigating agency; (B) Assignment of a report of child maltreatment to the Division of Arkansas State Police if the report involves: (i) Severe maltreatment; (ii) An agency, corporation, or partnership that provides substitute care for a child who is in the custody of the Department of Human Services; or (iii) A person, agency, corporation, or partnership that provides substitute care for a child who is in the custody of an employee of the Department of Human Services or another person who resides in the home of an employee of the Department of Human Services; and (C) Assignment of a report of child maltreatment that qualifies for triage procedures that are developed and implemented under this section and as prescribed by triage procedures in lieu of an assignment for investigation by the Department of Human Services or the Division of Arkansas State Police. (b) (1) (A) After the assignment of a report of child maltreatment, the investigating agency shall initiate an investigation as provided under this subchapter or follow triage procedures under subdivision (a)(2)(C) of this section. (B) After initiating the investigation and interviewing the alleged victim, the investigating agency shall review the report of child maltreatment to determine if the investigation should be administratively closed under § 12-18-702 without complying with the requirements of this subchapter regarding a complete investigation. (C) If an investigation is not administratively closed under § 12-18-702 , the investigating agency shall comply with the requirements of this subchapter regarding a complete investigation. (2) (A) The investigating agency shall administratively close an investigation under procedures that are established by the Department of Human Services. (B) The procedures established by the Department of Human Services shall require the: (i) Closure of an investigation if there is no evidence to support the report of child maltreatment other than the report made to the Child Abuse Hotline; (ii) Closure of an investigation if there is insufficient detail to investigate the report of child maltreatment; (iii) Closure of an investigation if: (a) There has not been an additional report of abuse or neglect that has been committed by the alleged offender who is the subject of the current report; (b) The investigator reviews the prior history of child maltreatment related to the family of the child and to the alleged offender and determines that the health and safety of the child can be assured without further investigation by the Department of Human Services or the Division of Arkansas State Police; and (c) The investigator determines that abuse or neglect of the child did not occur; and (iv) Approval of the: (a) Director of the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services or his or her designee for the administrative closure of an investigation that is conducted by the Department of Human Services; or (b) Director of the Division of Arkansas State Police or his or her designee for the administrative closure of an investigation conducted by the Division of Arkansas State Police. (c) (1) The Department of Human Services and the Division of Arkansas State Police may develop and implement triage procedures for accepting, documenting, and assigning reports of child maltreatment. (2) The Department of Human Services and the Division of Arkansas State Police shall not implement this section until rules necessary to carry out this subsection have been promulgated pursuant to the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq. (d) (1) With regard to the procedures established in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Department of Human Services shall assess the safety of a child upon the receipt of an accepted child maltreatment report. (2) The assessment under subdivision (d)(1) of this section shall include each underlying issue or additional child maltreatment concern that may not have been identified in the original Child Abuse Hotline report. (e) The Department of Human Services shall work with families related to an accepted child maltreatment report to remedy the conditions or issues that resulted in the child maltreatment report.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 727,§ 9, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2023, No. 364,§ 14, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2023, No. 364,§ 13, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2023, No. 364,§ 12, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2023, No. 364,§ 11, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2019, No. 802,§ 3, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1215,§ 3, eff. 7/22/2015. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1004,§ 10, eff. 7/22/2015. Acts 2009, No. 749, § 1; 2011, No. 1143, § 10.