Arkansas House OKs two ‘rehoming’ bills, Rep. Harris votes for both

A pair of bills that would seek to end the practice of “rehoming” in the state of Arkansas received overwhelming approval in the State House Friday (March 20), including from a state representative whose personal controversy brought the issue to the legislature’s attention.

The House voted 88-0 each to approve House Bills 1676 and 1648 during a Friday morning session at the state Capitol. Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway, who sponsored House Bill 1676, said his bill was modeled after a Louisiana bill on the topic.

The practice, called “rehoming,” involves allowing adoptive parents to transfer custody of their adopted children to someone else. Meeks said his bill would ban parents from finding someone else, other than family, to transfer custody of a child.

There have been about 10 cases of rehoming in Arkansas in recent years, Meeks told the House, noting the bill would also provide post-adoptive services to parents who may face trouble with an adoption. The bill also strengthens the state’s abandonment statute.

Under Rep. Leding’s bill, HB 1648, rehoming would be banned except to relatives, would provide a clear definition on the terms of any subsidy agreement between the state and adoptive parents as well as mandating a home study by the Department of Human Services. Leding said the bills were a joint effort to address a serious issue. The two bills both make “rehoming” a felony crime.

Both bills received strong support in the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday with sponsors working with the governor’s office and DHS to craft the legislation, Leding said.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson also announced this week that he will conduct an investigation, out of his office, to study the child welfare system in the state.

The bills now head to the Senate, where Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, will be the chief sponsor for both measures.

Officials have been discussing the issue since details about an adoption involving Rep. Justin Harris, R-West Fork, were disclosed. In a story earlier this month, the Arkansas Times reported on allegations about the adoption of three children that Harris and his wife, Marsha, did with DHS in 2013. Two of the children were given to another couple, Eric and Stacy Francis, according to an Arkansas State Police investigation.

Eric Francis was arrested in connection with sexually assaulting one of the children and was sentenced to 40 years in prison in the case.

The Harris’ have not been arrested or charged with anything in connection with the case and have stated their family had numerous problems with DHS officials on the adoption matter. Harris, who resigned his committee leadership posts Monday, voted yes on both bills.