§ 9-9-702. Fast-tracked adoption of Garrett’s Law babies — Definition
(a) As used in this section, “newborn” means an infant who is thirty (30) days of age or younger. (b) If a report of neglect under § 12-18-103(14)(B) is made to the Child Abuse Hotline, the mother has the option to place the newborn for: (1) Adoption through a licensed child placement agency as defined […]
§ 9-9-408. Subsidy agreement required — Commencement of subsidy
(a) When parents are found and approved for adoption of a child certified as eligible for a subsidy and before the final decree of adoption is issued, there must be a written agreement between the family entering into the subsidized adoption and the Department of Human Services. (b) (1) Adoption subsidies, the amount of which […]
§ 9-9-801. Definitions
As used in this subchapter: (1) “Adoption file” means a file maintained by the Department of Health that contains an original birth certificate and adoption decree of an adoptee; (2) “Genetic and social history” has the same meaning as provided under § 9-9-501; and (3) “Requester” means a person twenty-one (21) years of age or […]
§ 9-9-409. Subsidy amounts
(a) The amount of the subsidy may be readjusted periodically with the concurrence of the adopting parents, which may be specified in the adoption subsidy agreement, depending upon a change in circumstances. (b) The subsidy may be for special services not covered by any other available resource, which include health or education services. To ensure […]
§ 9-9-802. Birth parent redaction request and contact preference forms
(a) (1) (A) The Department of Health shall create and make available on its website: (i) A form that a birth parent may use to have his or her name redacted from the copy of an adoption file that a requester receives under § 9-9-803; and (ii) A form that a birth parent may use […]
§ 9-9-410. Subsidy agreements — Duration
(a) (1) The subsidy agreement shall be binding and constitute an obligation against the State of Arkansas until the adopted child reaches the age of eighteen (18) years or the benefits available to him or her under the subsidy agreement are provided by other state or federal programs or the adoptive parents no longer qualify […]
§ 9-9-803. Access to adoption file
(a) Beginning August 1, 2018, a requester may submit a written request for a copy of an adoption file from the Department of Health. (b) (1) A request submitted under this section shall include the requester’s address and notarized signature and satisfactory proof of the requester’s identity as determined by the department. (2) If the […]
§ 9-9-411. Subsidy agreements — Renewal, termination, or modification
(a) (1) (A) When subsidies are for more than one (1) year, the adoptive parents shall present an annual sworn certification that the adopted child remains under their care and that the condition that caused the child to be certified continues to exist. (B) An adoptive parent commits the offense of providing a false statement […]
§ 9-9-804. Immunity
An officer or employee of the Department of Health who releases any information contained in an adoption file or provides a copy of an adoption file to a requester is not criminally liable or civilly liable in damages to any person for injury, death, or loss allegedly arising from the release of the information or […]
§ 9-9-412. Appeals
Any subsidy decision by the Department of Human Services which the placement agency or the adoptive parents deem adverse to the child shall be reviewable according to the provisions of § 20-76-408.