AR
Arkansas House Bill HB1733

Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1733 Compare Versions

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11 Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
2-Act 504 of the Regular Session
3-*TNL228* 03-31-2025 12:13:04 TNL228
4-
5-State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/12/25 H3/31/25 1
2+*TNL228* 03/10/2025 2:29:45 PM TNL228
3+State of Arkansas 1
64 95th General Assembly A Bill 2
75 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1733 3
86 4
97 By: Representatives Joey Carr, Tosh 5
10-By: Senator Caldwell 6
8+ 6
119 7
1210 For An Act To Be Entitled 8
1311 AN ACT TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS 9
1412 CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM 10
1513 ACT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 11
1614 12
1715 13
1816 Subtitle 14
1917 TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE 15
2018 ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS 16
2119 BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ACT. 17
2220 18
2321 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 19
2422 20
25- SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative findings and intent. 21
26- (a) The General Assembly finds that: 22
27- (1) Preschool is an essential resource and component in the 23
28-State of Arkansas that is necessary to prepare young children to adequately 24
29-participate in a learning environment in elementary education; 25
30- (2) Currently, the Arkansas Better Chance Program and Arkansas 26
31-Better Chance for School Success Program have twenty -three thousand (23,000) 27
32-available preschool slots between the two programs; 28
33- (3) It is in the best interest of Arkansas's families and 29
34-childcare providers to combine the Arkansas Better Chance Program and 30
35-Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program to promote efficiency in 31
36-the use and administration of the programs; and 32
37- (4) The qualifications for eligibility to participate in the 33
38-Arkansas Better Chance Program and Arkansas Better Chance for School Success 34
39-Program should be established by the Division of Elementary and Secondary 35
40-Education and should be the same qualifications for eligibility to 36 As Engrossed: H3/12/25 H3/31/25 HB1733
23+ SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 6 -45-104(a)(2), concerning the requirement 21
24+of a local school to work with the Division of Elementary and Secondary 22
25+Education to develop an Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program in 23
26+certain circumstances, is amended to read as follows: 24
27+ (2) A local school is required to work with the Division of 25
28+Elementary and Secondary Education and its local community to establish, 26
29+promote, and assist in the development of a program under the Arkansas Better 27
30+Chance for School Success Program to serve all children in the school as 28
31+provided in § 6-45-108 § 6-45-105, if the school is located in a school 29
32+district classified as in need of Level 5 — Intensive support. 30
33+ 31
34+ SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 6 -45-105 is amended to read as follows: 32
35+ 6-45-105. Establishment of Arkansas Better Chance Program — Arkansas 33
36+Better Chance for School Success Program . 34
37+ (a)(1)(A) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall 35
38+establish the Arkansas Better Chance Program to assist in the establishment 36 HB1733
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41+and funding of the appropriate early childhood programs for children from 1
42+birth through five (5) years of age. 2
43+ (B) Within the Arkansas Better Chance Program there is 3
44+established the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program for 4
45+providing appropriate early care and education programs for children three 5
46+(3) years of age and four (4) years of age as identified under § 6 -45-108(a) 6
47+from birth through five (5) years of age . 7
48+ (C) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education 8
49+shall establish the same criteria and qualifications for eligibility to 9
50+participate in the Arkansas Better Chance Program and the Arkansas Better 10
51+Chance for School Success Program. 11
52+ (D) A child from birth through five (5) years of age who 12
53+meets at least one (1) of the following qualifications shall be eligible to 13
54+participate in the Arkansas Better Chance Program or the Arkansas Better 14
55+Chance for School Success Program: 15
56+ (i) The child has a family gross income not 16
57+exceeding two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level; 17
58+ (ii) The child has a parent who does not have a high 18
59+school diploma or a GED; 19
60+ (iii) The weight of the child at birth was below 20
61+five pounds (5 lbs.) and nine ounces (9 oz.); 21
62+ (iv) The child has a parent who was under eighteen 22
63+(18) years of age at the birth of the child; 23
64+ (v) An immediate family member of the child has a 24
65+history of substance abuse or addiction; 25
66+ (vi) The child has a demonstrable developmental 26
67+delay as identified through an official screening; 27
68+ (vii) The child is eligible for services under the 28
69+Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., as it 29
70+existed on January 1, 2025; 30
71+ (viii) The child is income -eligible for Title I 31
72+programs; 32
73+ (ix) The child has limited English language 33
74+proficiency; or 34
75+ (x) The child has a parent who has a history of 35
76+abuse or neglect or the child is a victim of abuse or neglect. 36 HB1733
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79+ (2)(A) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall 1
80+award grants or contracts to appropriate early childhood programs selected by 2
81+the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance with 3
82+specified programmatic standards. 4
83+ (B)(i) These standards will shall be developed by the 5
84+Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, with the advice and 6
85+assistance of the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission. 7
86+ (ii) Standards for funding the Home Instruction for 8
87+Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) U.S.A. will shall be developed in 9
88+conjunction with the Arkansas HIPPY Advisory Board. 10
89+ (C) The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool 11
90+Youngsters (HIPPY) U.S.A. regional technical assistance and training center 12
91+shall be defined and funded as an integral part of the Home Instruction for 13
92+Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) U.S.A. to provide necessary training, 14
93+technical assistance, and program support to program sites in Arkansas. 15
94+ (b) The programmatic standards and other rules necessary for the 16
95+implementation of the Arkansas Better Chance Program and the Arkansas Better 17
96+Chance for School Success Program shall be adopted by the State Board of 18
97+Education in accordance with the provisions of the Arkansas Administrative 19
98+Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq. 20
99+ (c)(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may expend a 21
100+maximum of two percent (2%) of available funds to administer the Arkansas 22
101+Better Chance Program and the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success 23
102+Program and to monitor Arkansas Better Chance Program and Arkansas Better 24
103+Chance for School Success Program grantees to ensure compliance with 25
104+programmatic standards. 26
105+ (2) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may 27
106+contract with the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education to 28
107+administer the Arkansas Better Chance Program and the Arkansas Better Chance 29
108+for School Success Program . 30
109+ 31
110+ SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 6 -45-108 is repealed. 32
111+ 6-45-108. Criteria for determining need. 33
112+ (a)(1) All children three (3) years of age and four (4) years of age 34
113+who are members of a family with a gross family income not exceeding two 35
114+hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible to 36 HB1733
44115
45-participate in the Arkansas Better Chance Program for the 2024 -2025 school 1
46-year. 2
47- (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to ensure a greater 3
48-opportunity for a more efficient utilization of current slots and resources 4
49-available in both the Arkansas Better Chance Program and Arkansas Better 5
50-Chance for School Success Program for Arkansas families and childcare 6
51-providers. 7
52- 8
53- SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 6 -45-104(a)(2), concerning the requirement 9
54-of a local school to work with the Division of Elementary and Secondary 10
55-Education to develop an Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program in 11
56-certain circumstances, is amended to read as follows: 12
57- (2) A local school is required to work with the Division of 13
58-Elementary and Secondary Education and its local community to establish, 14
59-promote, and assist in the development of a program under the Arkansas Better 15
60-Chance for School Success Program to serve all children in the school as 16
61-provided in § 6-45-108 § 6-45-105, if the school is located in a school 17
62-district classified as in need of Level 5 — Intensive support. 18
63- 19
64- SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 6-45-105 is amended to read as follows: 20
65- 6-45-105. Establishment of Arkansas Better Chance Program — Arkansas 21
66-Better Chance for School Success Program . 22
67- (a)(1)(A) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall 23
68-establish the Arkansas Better Chance Program to assist in the establishment 24
69-and funding of the appropriate early childhood programs for children from 25
70-birth through five (5) years of age. 26
71- (B) Within the Arkansas Better Chance Program there is 27
72-established the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program for 28
73-providing appropriate early care and education programs for children three 29
74-(3) years of age and four (4) years of age as identified under § 6 -45-108(a) 30
75-from birth through five (5) years of age . 31
76- (C) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education 32
77-shall establish the same criteria and qualifications for eligibility to 33
78-participate in the Arkansas Better Chance Program and the Arkansas Better 34
79-Chance for School Success Program. 35
80- (D) A child from birth through five (5) years of age who 36 As Engrossed: H3/12/25 H3/31/25 HB1733
81-
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83-
84-
85-meets at least one (1) of the qualifications established by the Division of 1
86-Elementary and Secondary Education for the Arkansas Better Chance Program or 2
87-the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program shall be eligible to 3
88-participate in the Arkansas Better Chance Program or the Arkansas Better 4
89-Chance for School Success Program. 5
90-(2)(A) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall 6
91-award grants or contracts to appropriate early childhood programs 7
92- selected by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance 8
93- with specified programmatic standards. 9
94- (B)(i) These standards will shall be developed by the 10
95-Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, with the advice and 11
96-assistance of the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission. 12
97- (ii) Standards for funding the Home Instruction for 13
98-Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) U.S.A. will shall be developed in 14
99-conjunction with the Arkansas HIPPY Advisory Board. 15
100- (C) The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool 16
101-Youngsters (HIPPY) U.S.A. regional technical assistance and training center 17
102-shall be defined and funded as an integral part of the Home Instruction for 18
103-Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) U.S.A. to provide necessary training, 19
104-technical assistance, and program support to program sites in Arkansas. 20
105- (b) The programmatic standards and other rules necessary for the 21
106-implementation of the Arkansas Better Chance Program and the Arkansas Better 22
107-Chance for School Success Program shall be adopted by the State Board of 23
108-Education in accordance with the provisions of the Arkansas Administrative 24
109-Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq. 25
110- (c)(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may expend a 26
111-maximum of two percent (2%) of available funds to administer the Arkansas 27
112-Better Chance Program and the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success 28
113-Program and to monitor Arkansas Better Chance Program and Arkansas Better 29
114-Chance for School Success Program grantees to ensure compliance with 30
115-programmatic standards. 31
116- (2) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may 32
117-contract with the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education to 33
118-administer the Arkansas Better Chance Program and the Arkansas Better Chance 34
119-for School Success Program . 35
120- 36 As Engrossed: H3/12/25 H3/31/25 HB1733
121-
122- 4 03-31-2025 12:13:04 TNL228
123-
124-
125- SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 6 -45-108 is repealed. 1
126- 6-45-108. Criteria for determining need. 2
127- (a)(1) All children three (3) years of age and four (4) years of age 3
128-who are members of a family with a gross family income not exceeding two 4
129-hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible to 5
130-attend an Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program if there is an 6
131-Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program available in the school 7
132-district where the child resides and if there is available space for the 8
133-child to attend the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program. 9
134- (2) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the 10
135-Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education may develop a fee 11
136-schedule and establish eligibility based on family income for children who 12
137-are not eligible under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, but priority 13
138-enrollment shall be allowed to children eligible under subdivision (a)(1) of 14
139-this section. 15
140- (b) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the 16
141-Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education shall review various 17
142-criteria for identifying and targeting the areas of the state with the 18
143-greatest need for early childhood programs. 19
144- (c) The State Board of Education, with the advice and assistance of 20
145-the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, shall adopt the 21
146-appropriate criteria for identifying Arkansas children with the greatest need 22
147-to participate in Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program -funded 23
148-early childhood programs. 24
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117+attend an Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program if there is an 1
118+Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program available in the school 2
119+district where the child resides and if there is available space for the 3
120+child to attend the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program. 4
121+ (2) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the 5
122+Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education may develop a fee 6
123+schedule and establish eligibility based on family income for children who 7
124+are not eligible under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, but priority 8
125+enrollment shall be allowed to children eligible under subdivision (a)(1) of 9
126+this section. 10
127+ (b) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the 11
128+Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education shall review various 12
129+criteria for identifying and targeting the areas of the state with the 13
130+greatest need for early childhood programs. 14
131+ (c) The State Board of Education, with the advice and assistance of 15
132+the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, shall adopt the 16
133+appropriate criteria for identifying Arkansas children with the greatest need 17
134+to participate in Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program -funded 18
135+early childhood programs. 19
136+ 20
137+ 21
138+ 22
139+ 23
140+ 24
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153-APPROVED: 4/10/25 29
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