ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: HHS DP 9-0-0-0 | APPROP DP 12-0-0-1

HB 2409: adult protective services; audit; appropriation

Sponsor: Representative Dunn, LD 13

Caucus & COW

Overview

Appropriates $300,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in Fiscal Year 2022 to the Auditor General (AG) to engage an independent consultant with expertise in Adult Protective Services (APS) and consider best practices to improve the delivery of services.

History

The AG provides an independent financial, performance and compliance audit capability in support of legislative oversight and public accountability of funds administered by the state and certain local governments.

APS is a program within the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) responsible for investigating allegations of abuse, exploitation and neglect of vulnerable adults. Protective services programs seek to maintain the adult in the adult's familiar environment by strengthening the adult's capacity for self-maintenance or by providing supportive services (A.R.S. § 46-451(B)).

In 2019, the Speaker of the House of Representatives established the House Ad Hoc Committee on Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults (Committee). The purpose of the Committee was to review and identify best practices for the reporting and investigative processes to ensure the safety of vulnerable adults. One of the recommendations in the Committee's final report was to fund an independent audit of APS.

Provisions

1. Requires the AG to engage an independent consultant with expertise in APS operations and investigations to examine current APS and consider best practices to improve the delivery of services in Arizona, including the following:

a) Developing a strategic direction that ensures the safety of vulnerable adults and establishes protocols for services after an investigation;

b) Creating accountability mechanisms, including the capacity to produce accurate data on performance and outcome measures, use of the data for performance management, processes for continuous quality review, mechanisms for qualitative review of system functioning and outcomes for vulnerable adults;

c) Strategies for community engagement, including engagement with families, vulnerable adults and service providers; and

d) The need for and frequency of regular, periodic performance evaluations and the recommended areas for future reviews of APS by an independent outside evaluator. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires the AG to consider the following in its decision to enter into a contract with an independent consultant:

a) The consultant's history of working with states or counties in evaluating its operations for APS;

b) The satisfaction of the states or counties with the work of the consultant;

c) The knowledge of the consultant's staff or contractors in APS reform and operations; and

d) The consultant's knowledge of related laws governing APS and the consultant's knowledge of evidence-based and promising best practices in APS. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires the consultant to submit, by July 1, 2022, a report of its work, including findings and recommendations, to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairpersons of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults and provide a copy of its report to the Secretary of State. (Sec. 1)

4. Appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FY 2022 to the AG for the purposes of this act. (Sec. 2)

5. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing. (Sec. 2)

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9. HB 2409

10. Initials EB/IR Page 0 Caucus & COW

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