1. (a) If the FSW Investigator is unable to make a supervisor-approved investigative determination within forty-five (45) calendar days of receipt of the child maltreatment report due to good cause, then the FSW Investigator will:

   1. (1) Conference with his or her supervisor regarding the need for extension; and
   2. (2) By no later than the fortieth day of the investigation, request his or her supervisor to submit the completed CFS-217: Request for Investigation Timeframe Extension via CHRIS.

2. (b) The FSW supervisor will:

   1. (1) Review and discuss the request and associated investigative file with the investigator within twenty-four (24) hours of the request; and

   2. (2) If it is determined that:

      1. (A) An extension is warranted, immediately forward the CFS-217: Request for Investigation Timeframe Extension via CHRIS (Level 9 security required) and any supporting documentation to the Area Director or designee; or
      2. (B) An extension is not warranted:

3. (i) Deny the request in CHRIS; and

   1. (ii) Conference with investigator as to how to ensure a supervisor-approved investigation determination is made within forty-five (45) days of the receipt of the child maltreatment report from the hotline.

      1. (c) The Area Director or designee will:
   2. (1) Review and discuss the request and associated investigative file with the investigator within twenty-four (24) hours of the request; and

   3. (2) If it is determined that:

      1. (A) An extension is warranted, immediately forward the CFS-217: Request for Investigation Timeframe Extension via CHRIS and any supporting documentation to the Assistant Director of Field Operations or designee; or

      2. (B) An extension is not warranted:

         1. (i) Deny the request in CHRIS; and
         2. (ii) Conference with FSW Supervisor as to how to ensure a supervisor-approved investigation determination is made within forty-five (45) days of the receipt of the child maltreatment report from the hotline.
         3. (d) The Assistant Director of Field Operations or designee will review and respond to any extension request within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of request via CHRIS.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "08/2013"