12-18-908. Removal of name from the Child Maltreatment Central Registry.

12-18-908. Removal of name from the Child Maltreatment Central Registry. (a) If an adult offender is found guilty of, pleads guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere to an act that is the same act for which the offender is named in the Child Maltreatment Central Registry regardless of any subsequent expungement of the offense from the offender's criminal record, the offender shall always remain in the registry unless the conviction is reversed or vacated. (b)(1) The Department of Human Services shall identify in its policy and procedures manual the types of child maltreatment that shall automatically result in the removal of the name of an offender from the registry. (2) If an offender has been entered into the registry as an offender for the named types of child maltreatment identified under subdivision (b)(1) of this section, the offender's name shall be removed from the registry on reports of this type of child maltreatment if the offender has not had a subsequent true report of this type for one (1) year and more than one (1) year has passed since the offender's name was placed on the registry. (c)(1) The department shall identify in its policy and procedures manual the types of child maltreatment for which an offender can request that the offender's name be removed from the registry. (2)(A) If an offender has been entered into the registry as an offender for the named types of child maltreatment identified under subdivision (c)(1) of this section, the offender may petition the department, requesting that the offender's name be removed from the registry if the offender has not had a subsequent true report of this type for one (1) year and more than one (1) year has passed since the offender's name was placed on the registry. (B) If the department denies the request for removal of the name from the registry, the offender shall wait one (1) year from the date of the request for removal before filing a new petition with the department, requesting that the offender's name be removed from the registry. (3) The department shall develop policy and procedures to assist it in determining whether to remove the offender's name from the registry. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subchapter, with regard to an offender who was a child at the time of the act or omission that resulted in a true finding of child maltreatment, the department shall: (1) Not remove the offender's name from the registry if the offender was found guilty of, pleaded guilty to, or pleaded nolo contendere to a felony in circuit court as an adult for the act that is the same act for which the offender is named in the registry unless the conviction is reversed or vacated; or (2) Remove the offender's name from the registry if: (A) The juvenile has reached eighteen (18) years of age or more than one (1) year has passed from the date of the act or omission that caused the true finding of child maltreatment and there have been no subsequent acts or omissions resulting in a true finding of child maltreatment; and (B) The offender can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the juvenile offender has been rehabilitated. (3) If the department denies the request for removal of the name from the registry, the offender shall wait one (1) year from the date of the request for removal before filing a new petition with the department, requesting that the offender's name be removed from the registry. (e)(1)(A) If the department denies the request for removal of the name from the registry, the offender may request an administrative hearing within thirty (30) days from receipt of the department's decision. (B) The standard on review for the administrative hearing shall be whether the department abused its discretion. (2)(A) At least ten (10) days prior to the administrative hearing, the alleged offender and the department shall share any information with the other party that the party intends to introduce into evidence at the administrative hearing that is not contained in the record. (B) If a party fails to timely share information, the administrative law judge shall: (i) Grant a continuance; (ii) Allow the record to remain open for submission of rebuttal evidence; or (iii) Reject the information as not relevant to the rehabilitation or the incident of child maltreatment. (f) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services shall adopt rules necessary to carry out this chapter pursuant to the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq., except that the secretary shall not begin the process under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq., until the proposed rules have been reviewed by the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs and the Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth.