HB1569

House Bill 1569 establishes the legal right of a parent, guardian, or custodian to access the medical records of a child in their care, even if that child has been removed from their custody or is currently in the custody of the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS). The bill defines 'medical records' broadly to include hospital, clinic, physician, and other healthcare-related documents, whether in paper or electronic form. It requires healthcare institutions to provide these records upon request to the eligible parent, guardian, or custodian. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Department of Human Services and any placement entities must execute any necessary consents to facilitate the transfer of these records. Finally, it authorizes courts with jurisdiction over a child to issue orders ensuring compliance with these record-sharing requirements.