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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
kinship foster care stipend
Purpose
Requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to provide a monthly stipend to kinship foster care parents of $150 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 $14,200,000 annually to the state General Fund (JLBC Fiscal Note).
Provisions
1. Requires DCS to provide a kinship foster care parent with a stipend of $150 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.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Decreased the monthly stipend for kinship foster care parents from $250 to $150.
2. Updates the fiscal impact statement to include the revised fiscal note.
Senate Action
APPROP 2/16/21 DPA 10-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 17, 2021
LMM/kja