A spokesman for Gov. Asa Hutchinson says a broad review of the Arkansas Department of Human Services following the report that a lawmaker gave his adopted daughter to a man who later sexually abused her should cost taxpayers little-to-no money.
Hutchinson spokesman J.R. Davis said Tuesday that the $25,000 payment for an out-of-state consultant to analyze the agency will be paid for by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a national philanthropy for disadvantaged children.
Hutchinson said Monday that he selected Paul Vincent of the Alabama-based Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group to lead the review. Hutchinson announced the review last week after reports that Republican Rep. Justin Harris of West Fork in 2013 gave his adopted daughters to a man who later admitted to sexually abusing one of them.