Ark. Code Ann. § 21-4-218
This is the official text of Ark. Code Ann. § 21-4-218, part of Arkansas’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Arkansas, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Foster care leave - When granted - Definition
Official statutory text
(a) As used in this section, "child" means a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or younger. (b) (1) Except for an employee employed in a position included under subsection (e) of this section, each employee is eligible for forty (40) hours per calendar year of foster care leave with pay when a child in foster care has been placed in the home of the employee. (2) No more than forty (40) hours of foster care leave with pay shall be used in a calendar year even if multiple children are placed in the home of the employee at different times. (c) Foster care leave with pay may be granted for the following purposes: (1) Bonding with the child and for adjustment purposes; (2) Attending school placement meetings related to changes due to foster care placement; (3) Attending individualized educational program meetings related to changes due to foster care placement; (4) Attending required court hearings; and (5) Attending required case-planning activities. (d) The employee shall be required to provide his or her state agency with documentation regarding the placement of the child in foster care. (e) Foster care leave with pay shall not be granted to: (1) An emergency, intermittent, probationary, or extra-help employee; or (2) An employee who is eligible for catastrophic leave for maternity purposes for the placement of an infant under one (1) year of age under § 21-4-214 . (f) Foster care leave with pay that is granted under this section: (1) That is unused shall not be carried over to the next calendar year; and (2) Is not compensable to the employee upon termination or retirement. Added by Act 2023, No. 756,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023.
(a) As used in this section, "child" means a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or younger.
(b) (1) Except for an employee employed in a position included under subsection (e) of this section, each employee is eligible for forty (40) hours per calendar year of foster care leave with pay when a child in foster care has been placed in the home of the employee. (2) No more than forty (40) hours of foster care leave with pay shall be used in a calendar year even if multiple children are placed in the home of the employee at different times.
(1) Except for an employee employed in a position included under subsection (e) of this section, each employee is eligible for forty (40) hours per calendar year of foster care leave with pay when a child in foster care has been placed in the home of the employee.
(2) No more than forty (40) hours of foster care leave with pay shall be used in a calendar year even if multiple children are placed in the home of the employee at different times.
(c) Foster care leave with pay may be granted for the following purposes: (1) Bonding with the child and for adjustment purposes; (2) Attending school placement meetings related to changes due to foster care placement; (3) Attending individualized educational program meetings related to changes due to foster care placement; (4) Attending required court hearings; and (5) Attending required case-planning activities.
(1) Bonding with the child and for adjustment purposes;
(2) Attending school placement meetings related to changes due to foster care placement;
(3) Attending individualized educational program meetings related to changes due to foster care placement;
(4) Attending required court hearings; and
(5) Attending required case-planning activities.
(d) The employee shall be required to provide his or her state agency with documentation regarding the placement of the child in foster care.
etings related to changes due to foster care placement;
(3) Attending individualized educational program meetings related to changes due to foster care placement;
(4) Attending required court hearings; and
(5) Attending required case-planning activities.
(d) The employee shall be required to provide his or her state agency with documentation regarding the placement of the child in foster care.
(e) Foster care leave with pay shall not be granted to: (1) An emergency, intermittent, probationary, or extra-help employee; or (2) An employee who is eligible for catastrophic leave for maternity purposes for the placement of an infant under one (1) year of age under § 21-4-214 .
(1) An emergency, intermittent, probationary, or extra-help employee; or
(2) An employee who is eligible for catastrophic leave for maternity purposes for the placement of an infant under one (1) year of age under § 21-4-214 .
(f) Foster care leave with pay that is granted under this section: (1) That is unused shall not be carried over to the next calendar year; and (2) Is not compensable to the employee upon termination or retirement.
(1) That is unused shall not be carried over to the next calendar year; and
(2) Is not compensable to the employee upon termination or retirement.
Added by Act 2023, No. 756,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023.
(a) As used in this section, "child" means a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or younger.
(b) (1) Except for an employee employed in a position included under subsection (e) of this section, each employee is eligible for forty (40) hours per calendar year of foster care leave with pay when a child in foster care has been placed in the home of the employee. (2) No more than forty (40) hours of foster care leave with pay shall be used in a calendar year even if multiple children are placed in the home of the employee at different times.
(1) Except for an employee employed in a position included under subsection (e) of this section, each employee is eligible for forty (40) hours per calendar year of foster care leave with pay when a child in foster care has been placed in the home of the employee.
(2) No more than forty (40) hours of foster care leave with pay shall be used in a calendar year even if multiple children are placed in the home of the employee at different times.
(c) Foster care leave with pay may be granted for the following purposes: (1) Bonding with the child and for adjustment purposes; (2) Attending school placement meetings related to changes due to foster care placement; (3) Attending individualized educational program meetings related to changes due to foster care placement; (4) Attending required court hearings; and (5) Attending required case-planning activities.
(1) Bonding with the child and for adjustment purposes;
(2) Attending school placement meetings related to changes due to foster care placement;
(3) Attending individualized educational program meetings related to changes due to foster care placement;
(4) Attending required court hearings; and
(5) Attending required case-planning activities.
(d) The employee shall be required to provide his or her state agency with documentation regarding the placement of the child in foster care.
etings related to changes due to foster care placement;
(3) Attending individualized educational program meetings related to changes due to foster care placement;
(4) Attending required court hearings; and
(5) Attending required case-planning activities.
(d) The employee shall be required to provide his or her state agency with documentation regarding the placement of the child in foster care.
(e) Foster care leave with pay shall not be granted to: (1) An emergency, intermittent, probationary, or extra-help employee; or (2) An employee who is eligible for catastrophic leave for maternity purposes for the placement of an infant under one (1) year of age under § 21-4-214 .
(1) An emergency, intermittent, probationary, or extra-help employee; or
(2) An employee who is eligible for catastrophic leave for maternity purposes for the placement of an infant under one (1) year of age under § 21-4-214 .
(f) Foster care leave with pay that is granted under this section: (1) That is unused shall not be carried over to the next calendar year; and (2) Is not compensable to the employee upon termination or retirement.
(1) That is unused shall not be carried over to the next calendar year; and
(2) Is not compensable to the employee upon termination or retirement.
Added by Act 2023, No. 756,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023.
Status: in_force
Need a lawyer in Arkansas?
Find a Arkansas lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.