REFERENCE TITLE: appropriations; direct services; referrals.

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fourth Legislature First Regular Session 2019

SB 1547

Introduced by Senators Gowan: Allen S, Borrelli, Fann, Gray, Leach (with permission of Committee on Rules)

 

AN ACT

 

Appropriating monies to the department of health services.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

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

Section 1.  Appropriations; department of health services; family health pilot program

A.  The sum of $2,500,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in each of fiscal years 2019‑2020, 2020‑2021 and 2021‑2022 to the department of health services for a family health pilot program.

B.  The department of health services shall distribute the monies appropriated in each fiscal year pursuant to subsection A of this section for the family health pilot program to a nonprofit organization to implement a statewide system to provide direct services, support services, social services case management and referrals to the biological or adoptive parents of children under two years of age, including unborn children.  The purpose of the statewide system is to encourage healthy childbirth, support childbirth as an alternative to abortion, promote family formation, aid successful parenting and increase families' economic self‑sufficiency.  The statewide system services must be available to all residents of this state in both urban and rural areas.  Monies may not be used for abortion referral services or distributed to entities that promote, refer or perform abortions.  The nonprofit organization that receives the monies must demonstrate both of the following:

1.  Experience in marketing and serving the eligible patient population.

2.  That the organization can begin serving clients statewide within sixty days after receiving monies pursuant to this section.