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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
juvenile group homes; license; DCS
Purpose
Includes the Department of Child Safety (DCS) as a juvenile group homes licensing authority.
Background
Current statute requires state agencies that contract directly with juvenile group homes and regional behavioral health authorities that subcontract with group homes to be licensed by either the Department of Health Services (DHS) or the Department of Economic Security (DES) (A.R.S. § 36-1201). A group home is a residential facility that is licensed to serve more than four minors at any one time, that is licensed by either DHS or DES and that provides contracted services for dependent, delinquent or incorrigible minors, or for minors with developmental disabilities, mental health needs or substance abuse needs. Statute excludes hospitals, nursing homes, child crisis and domestic violence shelters, adult homes and foster homes from the definition of group home.
A licensing authority is any state agency or its division, office, section, bureau or program that is responsible for licensing group homes. Licensing authorities are authorized to determine if a licensing violation has occurred or is occurring and notify the appropriate contracting authority. If a licensing deficiency is not corrected in a timely manner and to the satisfaction of the licensing authority, the contracting authority is permitted to cancel the contract immediately upon notice to the group home and remove any residents (A.R.S. § 36-1201).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Adds DCS as a juvenile group homes contractor licensing authority.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 4, 2019
CRS/AG/kja