(a) (1) Any church or group of churches exempt from the state income tax levied by the Income Tax Act of 1929, § 26-51-101 et seq., when operating a child welfare agency shall be exempt from obtaining a license to operate the facility by the receipt by the Child Welfare Agency Review Board of written request therefor, together with the written verifications required in subsection (b) of this section.
(2) A written request shall be made by those churches desiring exemption to the board, which is mandated under the authority of this subchapter to license all child welfare agencies.
(b) (1) In order to maintain an exempt status, the child welfare agency shall state every two (2) years in written form signed by the persons in charge that the agency has met the fire, safety, and health inspections and is in substantial compliance with published standards that similar nonexempt child welfare agencies are required to meet.
(2) Visits to review and advise exempt agencies shall be made as deemed necessary by the board to verify and maintain substantial compliance with all published standards for nonexempt agencies.
(3) Standards for substantial compliance shall not include those of a religious or curriculum nature so long as the health, safety, and welfare of the child are not endangered.
(c) (1) Any questions of substantial compliance with the published standards shall be reviewed by the board.
(2) Final administrative actions of the board shall be pursued by either party in the court of competent jurisdiction in the resident county of the facility under review.
(3) Challenge to the constitutionality or reasonableness of any regulation or statute may be made prior to any appeal under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq.
(d) (1) As used in this section, the term "substantial compliance" and the term "is being operated in accordance with this subchapter" shall each mean that a church-operated exempt or a nonexempt child welfare agency is being operated within the minimum requirements for substantial compliance as promulgated by the board.
(2) It is the intent and purpose of this section that the term "substantial compliance" be applicable to all child welfare agencies.
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