House Judiciary Committee Passes Rehoming Bill; Governor Starts Independent Review Of Child Welfare Services

A bill that would ban “rehoming” in Arkansas was approved by a key committee Tuesday morning, and later in the day, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he was launching an “independent review” of the state’s child welfare services.

On Tuesday morning, the House Judiciary Committee voted to pass House Bill 1676, sponsored by Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway.

Meeks told the committee that the bill would address concerns in state law over the practice, which allows adoptive parents to privately transfer adoptive children to live with someone else.

There has been plenty of discussion over the issue since news broke involving Rep. Justin Harris, R-West Fork.

A story in the Arkansas Times earlier this month detailed allegations about an adoption Harris and his wife, Marsha, completed in 2013 involving two children.

According to the story, an Arkansas State Police investigation showed the children were given to another couple, Eric and Stacy Francis.

Eric Francis was later arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting one of the children and was sentenced to 40 years in prison on the charge.

Neither Justin nor Marsha Harris have been arrested or charged with anything in connection with the investigation.

Harris, who resigned his committee leadership posts Monday afternoon, said he supports making the practice a felony.

BILL’S FOCUS
The bill was modeled after a similar bill in Louisiana, Meeks said, noting Arkansas has had about a dozen confirmed instances of rehoming in recent years.

Meeks told the committee that the bill would not only make the practice a felony crime, it would also tighten up the state’s abandonment statute and add family services help for families interested in adopting.

“It makes the law clearer,” Meeks said. “We don’t want to charge (anyone) if they do the right thing.”

Under the bill, a person cannot be charged with rehoming if they place a child with a relative, step parent, an agency or the Department of Human Services; as well as temporarily placing the child with someone due to vacation, a school function, going to jail, serving in the military, medical treatment for the parent or the parent being incapacitated.

Meeks said lawmakers plan to study the issue further and that his bill, along with a bill from Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, provide for a good start.

Leding’s bill, House Bill 1648, would prohibit rehoming except to relatives.

Meeks’ bill now heads to the House.

HUTCHINSON LAUNCHES INDEPENDENT REVIEW
In an early afternoon press conference to discuss workforce issues, Gov. Asa Hutchinson fielded a question on the ongoing Rep. Harris saga and the rehoming issue.

Hutchinson said he has ordered an independent review of the child welfare system within the Department of Human Services and said it will be directed out of the Governor’s office. He added that more than the rehoming and adoption circumstances would be reviewed indicating it would be a “broad array of programs.”

When asked about Harris’ decision to step down from his leadership posts in the General Assembly, Hutchinson said, “That’s a decision that the House leadership and Rep. Harris made, in terms of his role on various committees. Let me address it this way, I’ve been concerned from Day One that we’re doing the right thing for the children of Arkansas through our Department of Human Services.”

When pressed if he thought Harris was still fit to serve, Hutchinson said, “”I will leave the legislative questions to leadership of the legislature.”

House Minority Leader Rep. Eddie Armstrong, D-North Little Rock, released a statement following the Governor’s announcement.

“I embrace Governor Hutchinson’s positive step in directing a review of our child welfare system. It is imperative that all parties involved be cooperative and transparent by providing all emails and documents so that we can work together to ensure a tragic situation like this one does not happen again and we can ensure the Department of Human Services is able to better serve our children in the future,” Armstrong said.