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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
kinship foster care stipend
Purpose
Requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to provide a monthly stipend to kinship foster care parents of $250 per month.
Background
DCS is responsible for investigating reports of abuse and neglect relating to children and coordinating services to maintain permanency on behalf of the child, strengthening the family and providing prevention, intervention and treatment services (A.R.S. § 8-451).
The placement of a child who is in DCS custody is determined by the best interests of the child, and DCS must establish kinship foster care services for a child who has been removed from the child's home. A kinship foster care parent may be eligible to receive the following financial services for the child: 1) full foster care benefits, including payment if the kinship foster care parent becomes a licensed foster care home; and 2) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance payments (A.R.S. § 8-514.03).
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee published a fiscal note on S.B. 1539 that projects a fiscal impact of $19,200,000 annually to the state General Fund (JLBC Fiscal Note).
Provisions
1. Requires DCS to provide a kinship foster care parent with a stipend of $250 per month for each child placed with the kinship foster care parent.
2. Repeals statute that requires the promotion of placing the children in the care of DCS with the child's relative or a person with a significant relationship to the child for kinship foster care.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 12, 2021
LMM/kja