Committee Approves Transfer of Child‑Welfare and Juvenile Ombudsman Offices to Office of Inspector General

Members of the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs Committee approved House Bill 1964 to transfer the child‑welfare ombudsman from the UAMS Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence and the juvenile ombudsman from the Arkansas Public Defender Commission to the Office of the Inspector General.

Representative Keith Brooks, R‑78, described the change as primarily technical and said co‑locating the two ombudsman functions would create "independent oversight over DCFS, DYS," allow cross‑training and improve efficiency across child‑welfare systems. "Basically, what we're trying to do is just co‑locate these two functions," Brooks said.

Tiffany Wright, director of the Division of Children and Family Services, told the committee she supports the move and said co‑location would "increase efficiency in operating, as well as ensure that we get systems recommendations for children and families that we're serving." Christy Putnam, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, said the Office of the Inspector General maintains audit and investigative functions, including a Medicaid fraud unit, and that placing the ombudsman offices there would provide a third‑party oversight role.

Greg Parrish of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission and Brooke Digby, the juvenile ombudsman, both appeared to explain current arrangements. Parrish said the juvenile ombudsman operates under the Public Defender Commission while funding for the position comes from the Department of Human Services. Digby said she had served in the juvenile‑ombudsman role for nearly seven years and that she had not been approached about the proposed move before the bill was filed; she said she is open to changes that would improve services to youth but was "a little blindsided." "No one has even approached me about moving," Digby said.

Representative Gonzales Worthen and others asked about minimum qualifications and educational requirements that are currently in statute for the ombudsman positions. Secretary Putnam and other witnesses told the committee the intent is to transfer the current qualifications and to add language as a senate amendment to preserve education and experience requirements in the new placement.

Committee members also discussed personnel continuity; witnesses said it was not the intent to eliminate positions and that current staff were expected to be retained and moved to the Office of the Inspector General. Committee discussion noted there is no emergency clause that would make the change immediate; a referenced effective date in discussion was July 1, 2025, which committee members said would allow time for transition planning among the affected agencies.

Representative Brooks closed and moved to pass the bill. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; members present responded "Aye."