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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
child only case; definition
Purpose
Deems, as a child only case, a case in which a dependent child is placed by court order or tribal court order with an unrelated adult or nonrelative parent who is not receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance (TANF CA).
Background
The Department of Economic Security administers the TANF CA Program to provide temporary cash benefits and supportive services to Arizona children and families. To be eligible for TANF CA, a family's net monthly income cannot exceed: 1) 130 percent of the current Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for families in which the head-of-household is a nonparent relative requesting TANF CA only for the dependent children; or 2) 100 percent of the current FPL for all other families. However, these income limitations do not apply to child only cases, and instead only the income of the dependent child is considered (A.R.S. § 46-292; A.A.C. R6-12-701). A family receiving TANF CA for themselves or on behalf of a dependent child is limited to 12 months of benefits, with certain exceptions. This 12-month time limit on TANF CA does not apply to child only cases (A.R.S. § 46-294).
A child only case is a case in which an eligible dependent child is in the legal custody of the Department of Child Safety (DCS), a tribal court or a tribal child welfare agency in Arizona and placed in foster care with an unrelated adult or a nonparent relative who is not receiving TANF CA (A.R.S. § 46-101).
Provisions
1. Expands the definition of a child only case to include a case in which an eligible dependent child is:
a) in the legal custody of DCS, a tribal court or a tribal child welfare agency in Arizona and placed in foster care with an unrelated adult or with a nonparent relative who is not receiving a licensed foster home care payment; or
2. Makes a technical change.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2021
CRS/kja