ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: HHS DP 5-3-0-0 | 3^rd Read 16-14-0-0 House: HHS DPA 5-4-0-0

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SB 1254: website; adoption information; task force

Sponsor:  Senator Barto, LD 15

Caucus & Cow

Overview

Requires the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS), beginning February 1, 2022, to provide specified adoption information on the DHS website. Establishes the Adoption Promotion Task Force (Task Force) and outlines membership and duties.

History

DHS is responsible for providing and coordinating services within Arizona to protect and improve public health. Currently, DHS duties include, but are not limited to: 1) promoting, developing and assisting local health departments; 2) collecting and preserving information related to the health of the people and the prevention of disease; 3) publishing public health statistics and information; 4) encouraging and aiding in coordinating local programs; 5) establishing and maintaining various laboratories; 6) licensing and regulating health care institutions, child care facilities and various health care providers; 7) administering a statewide system of emergency medical services; 8) collecting and maintaining vital records, including birth and death certificates; and 9) providing personnel and administrative services such as budgeting, information systems and facilities management for DHS (A.R.S. § 36-104 and 36-132). 

Provisions

1. Requires DHS to provide, beginning February 1, 2022, on its website home page and in both English and Spanish:

a) A list of public and private agencies and services available to assist a woman through pregnancy, on childbirth and while her child is dependent; and

b) Each agency's services, physical address, telephone number and website address. (Sec. 1)  

2. Prohibits any agency that counsels, refers, performs, induces, prescribes or provides any means for abortion from being included on the list.

3. Instructs DHS, to provide, beginning February 1, 2022, information on and a link to a separate webpage that is accessible by redirecting from the domain name adoptionoption.az.gov and that lists:

a) Public and nonprofit adoption agencies that are not affiliated with an abortion provider and that are arranged geographically;

b) Easily comprehensible first steps to assist a pregnant woman seeking to confidentially explore the option of placing her child for adoption;

c) Whether the adoption agency allows a woman to choose the adoptive parents;

d) Agencies that offer obstetric ultrasounds free of charge; and

e) Agencies that offer confidential counseling free of charge to a woman considering placing her child for adoption. (Sec. 1)

4. Requires the prescribed  information to be available in an easily downloadable printed format. (Sec. 1)

5. Establishes the Task Force within DHS consisting of the following members:

a) Two licensed clinical social workers who have experience in assisting birth mothers in the adoption process;

b) Two Arizona residents who provide preabortion or postabortion counseling in association with a nonprofit organization that does not counsel for or provide abortion;

c) Two licensed attorneys who specialize in advocating for women at risk of being coerced into abortion or in navigating the adoption process;

d) Two Arizona residents who are employed by public or private nonprofit adoption agencies;

e) Two executive directors, or their designees, of nonprofit organizations that promote adoption as an alternative to abortion;

f) Two members of the Senate; and

g) Two members of the House of Representatives. (Sec. 2)

6. Directs the Task Force to advise DHS on:

a) Preparing the prescribed website information; and

b) Developing a public education initiative to promote adoption. (Sec. 2)

7. Specifies that members of the Task Force are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement for travel expenses. (Sec. 2)

8. Repeals the Task Force on July 1, 2022. (Sec. 2)

Amendments

Committee on Health and Human Services

1. Specifies that DHS must provide on its website home page a conspicuous link that directs an individual to the prescribed information.

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5.                   SB 1254

6. Initials EB/SF        Page 0 Caucus & COW

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