Assigned to APPROP                                                                                                             FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1554

human services; budget reconciliation; 2019-2020

Purpose

            Makes statutory and session law changes relating to human services necessary to implement the FY 2020 state budget.

Background

            The Arizona Constitution prohibits substantive law from being included in the general appropriations, capital outlay appropriations and supplemental appropriations bills. However, it is often necessary to make statutory and session law changes to effectuate the budget. Thus, separate bills called budget reconciliation bills (BRBs) are introduced to enact these provisions. Because BRBs contain substantive law changes, the Arizona Constitution provides that they become effective on the general effective date, unless an emergency clause is enacted.

            S.B. 1554 contains the budget reconciliation provisions for changes relating to human services.

Provisions

Department of Child Safety (DCS)

1. Requires the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board (First Things First) and DCS to submit a joint annual report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), by February 1 of each year, on collaborative efforts to address child welfare issues of common concern.

2. Requires the report to include information about the level of coordination among DCS, First Things First and community groups to promote the well-being of children and families that are identified in reports of abuse or neglect.

Department of Economic Security (DES)

3. Requires DES to charge a recipient of Title IV-D services who receives at least $500 of support and has never received assistance under a state or tribal Title IV-A program an annual fee of $35, rather than $25.

4. Requires DES to charge an obligor an annual fee of $35, rather than $25, if a foreign country has requested enforcement of a support order in a Title IV-D case.

5. Removes the requirement that the Legislature annually adjust the appropriation made in the previous fiscal year to DES to provide services for persons with developmental disabilities whose service costs exceed the current cost-effective study rate.

6. Requires DES to reduce the maximum income eligibility levels for child care assistance in order to manage within available and appropriated monies.

7. Requires DES to notify JLBC of any change in maximum income eligibility levels for child care assistance within 15 days after implementing the change.

8. Continues to allow DES to use the monies appropriated to the Special Administration Fund in FY 2020 for domestic violence prevention and cost-effectiveness study client services.

9. Continues to require DES, during FY 2020, to screen and test each adult recipient who is otherwise eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash benefits and who DES has reasonable cause to believe engages in the illegal use of controlled substances.

10. Deems any TANF recipient who tests positive for the use of a non-prescribed controlled substance ineligible to receive benefits for one year.

Housing Trust Fund (HTF)

11. Allows the Department of Housing to spend HTF monies on constructing or renovating facilities and housing assistance, including support services, for individuals who are seriously mentally ill (SMI) and chronically resistant to treatment.

12. Requires the HTF annual report to include the number of SMI individuals who benefit from housing assistance.

13. Requires that a copy of the HTF annual report be provided to the Secretary of State by September 1 of each year.

Miscellaneous

14. Makes technical and conforming changes.

15. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

May 21, 2019

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