ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	House: NREW DP 7-3-0-0 | 3^rd Read 42-18-0-0   Senate: HHS DPA/SE 8-0-0-0 | 3^rd Read 30-0-0-0 Final Read: 59-1-0-0

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HB 2247: forest products; processing; tax credit

NOW: DCS; records; data; access

Sponsor:  Representative Griffin, LD 14

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Requires the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) to provide information to foster care review boards (FCRBs) through an automated information exchange.

History

The presiding judge of each juvenile court in each county is required to establish local FCRBs to review cases of children who are in out-of-home placement and are the subject of a dependency action for the determination of the child's permanent legal status. FCRBs are composed of five regular members and, if necessary, one alternate member. Currently, the alternate member must receive all case correspondence and reports (A.R.S. § 8-515.01).

The juvenile court in each county assigns cases of children in out-of-home placement to a local FCRB. For each case assigned, the juvenile court must also send to the local FCRB a copy of the case plan and a copy of the progress report detailing the placement and progress of a child in a foster home. These copies may be prepared by DCS or a licensed child welfare agency (agency) (A.R.S. § 8-515.02).

The Ombudsman-Citizens Aide may appoint an assistant to help investigate complaints relating to DCS. Both the Ombudsman-Citizens Aide and the assistant have access to DCS records and to any automated case management system utilized by DCS (A.R.S. § 41-1376).

Provisions

1. Specifies that an alternate member of a local FCRB must receive the same level of access to all necessary records, reports and data as a regular FCRB member. (Sec. 1)

2. Removes the requirement that the juvenile court send the following information to a local FCRB:

a) A copy of the case plan prepared by DCS or an agency; and

b) A copy of the progress report detailing the placement and progress of a child in a foster home prepared by DCS or an agency. (Sec. 2)

3. Requires DCS or an agency to provide an FCRB with a copy of a progress report resulting from a review of the placement and progress concerning a child in a foster home. (Sec. 3)

4. Requires DCS to provide, through an automated information exchange, the information necessary for FCRBs to perform their statutory duties. (Sec. 4)

5. Directs DCS and the Administrative Office of the Courts, on behalf of the State FCRB, to enter into a data sharing agreement to govern the parameters of the automated information exchange. (Sec. 4)

6. Stipulates that the Ombudsman-Citizens Aide and the assistant have direct remote access to any automated case management system used by DCS. (Sec. 5)

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10.                   HB 2247

11. Initials EB  Page 0 Transmitted

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