HB1292

House Bill 1292 amends Arkansas Code § 9-9-213 regarding the residency requirements for the adoption of a minor. The bill clarifies the timeframe that a minor must live in the home of the prospective adoptive parent before a final decree of adoption can be issued. For non-Department of Human Services (DHS) custody cases, it requires the child to have lived in the home for at least six months following placement by a licensed child-placement agency or the filing of the adoption petition, unless the child is a stepchild or under six months old. For cases involving children in DHS custody, the bill maintains a six-month residency requirement but allows for specific exceptions. These exceptions include cases where a child must live outside the home for medically necessary care, children under six months of age, and minors sixteen years or older who are participating in specific life skills, technical, or vocational programs, provided the waiver is granted by the Director of the Division of Children and Family Services.