REFERENCE TITLE: human services; budget reconciliation; 2017-2018.

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-third Legislature First Regular Session 2017

HB 2544

Introduced by Representative Mesnard

 

AN ACT

 

relating to budget reconciliation for human services.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Department of economic security; child care assistance eligibility; reduction; notification

Notwithstanding section 46‑803, Arizona Revised Statutes, for fiscal year 2017‑2018, the department of economic security may reduce maximum income eligibility levels for child care assistance in order to manage within appropriated and available monies.  The department of economic security shall notify the joint legislative budget committee of any change in maximum income eligibility levels for child care assistance within fifteen days after implementing the change.

Sec. 2.  Department of economic security; drug testing; TANF cash benefits recipients

During fiscal year 2017‑2018, the department of economic security shall screen and test each adult recipient who is otherwise eligible for temporary assistance for needy families cash benefits and who the department has reasonable cause to believe engages in the illegal use of controlled substances.  Any recipient who is found to have tested positive for the use of a controlled substance that was not prescribed for the recipient by a licensed health care provider is ineligible to receive benefits for a period of one year.

Sec. 3.  Child welfare; joint report

The Arizona early childhood development and health board and the department of child safety shall jointly report to the joint legislative budget committee on their collaborative efforts to address child welfare issues of common concern.  The report shall include information about the level of coordination among the department of child safety, the Arizona early childhood development and health board and community groups to promote the well-being of children and families that are identified in reports of abuse or neglect.  The joint report shall be submitted on or before February 1, 2018 for the prior year.

Sec. 4.  Auditor general; department of child safety; reports

A.  The auditor general shall provide to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate and the directors of the joint legislative budget committee and the governor's office of strategic planning and budgeting the following reports concerning the department of child safety that address:

1.  The department's caseworker caseload standards. The report shall assess the department's process for determining these standards, how caseloads are measured and the reliability of the data used to report caseloads.  The report shall also compare the department's caseload standards with best practices and other states' caseload standards, and make recommendations as appropriate.

2.  The department's practices for recruiting, licensing, using and retaining foster parents.  The report shall include a comparison of these practices with best practices and other states' practices, and make recommendations as appropriate.

B.  The auditor general shall submit the report prescribed by subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section on or before December 31, 2018, and the report prescribed by subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section on or before September 30, 2019.