Hutchinson seeks review of adoption rules after abuse case

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has instructed the state to review adoption procedures after a House member gave his adopted daughters to a man who admitted to abusing one of them.

Two lawmakers filed bills this week to criminalize transferring an adopted child to an unrelated family without state or court oversight. Hutchinson met with the lawmakers Thursday after the Arkansas Times newspaper reported that the adopted daughter of Rep. Justin Harris of West Fork was abused.

Thirty-nine-year-old Eric Francis pleaded guilty in November to sexually assaulting the girl and two others. Harris said he gave his adopted daughters to Francis in 2013 because he perceived the 6- and 3-year-old girls as a threat to his biological children.

At least five other states have passed laws regulating the practice called "re-homing."

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