 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
forest products; processing; tax credit.
(NOW: DCS; records; data; access)
Purpose
Directs the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to provide the Arizona Supreme Court and the Ombudsman-Citizens Aide with direct remote access to any automated case management system used by DCS. Directs DCS to provide Foster Care Review Boards (FCRBs) with specified information through an automated information exchange.
Background
Established in 2014, DCS's primary purpose is to protect children through investigation, assessment and support for the safety of children from abuse, neglect and other criminal conduct allegations. DCS is required to coordinate services to achieve and maintain permanency on behalf of the child, strengthen the family and provide prevention, intervention and treatment services without compromising child safety (A.R.S. § 8-451).
The State FCRB is part of the Dependent Children's Services Division of the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). Established in 1978, the FCRB is tasked with reviewing and coordinating activities of local FCRBs that advise the juvenile court regarding progress made toward permanent placement of children that have been placed in out-of-home care by DCS (A.R.S. §§ 8-515.01 and 8-515.05).
The Office of the Ombudsman-Citizens Aide was established in 1995 to service citizens' complaints by investigating the administrative acts of state agencies and annually reporting to the Governor, Legislature and public on its activities (Laws 1995, Ch. 281). The Ombudsman-Citizens Aide must be an Arizona resident for at least six months, be 25 years old and have investigatory experience (A.R.S. § 41-1374). Upon receiving a complaint, the Ombudsman-Citizens Aide may investigate or refuse to investigate based on specified statutory criteria (A.R.S. § 41-1377). The Ombudsman-Citizens Aide must notify a complainant of the decision to investigate or not investigate within 30 days of receiving a complaint (A.R.S. § 41-1378).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Obligates DCS to provide FCRBs with information necessary to perform their statutory duties through an automated information exchange.
2. Requires DCS and the AOC, on behalf of the State FCRB, to enter into a data sharing agreement to govern the automated information exchange.
3. Specifies that an alternate member of a local FCRB must receive the same level of access to all necessary records, reports and data as a regular local FCRB member.
4. Stipulates that the Ombudsman-Citizens Aide and the assistant have direct remote access to any DCS automated case management system.
5. Requires DCS or a licensed child welfare agency to provide the FCRB with progress reports resulting from reviews of placements and progress concerning children in foster homes.
6. Removes the requirement that the juvenile court send outlined information to local FCRBs.
7. Makes technical and conforming changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Adopted the strike-everything amendment.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires DCS to provide FCRBs with necessary information through an automated information exchange, rather than remote access to specified records.
2. Directs DCS and the AOC to enter into a data sharing agreement.
3. Eliminates proposed language directing DCS to provide specified entities with remote access to automated case management systems.
4. Makes a technical change.
Senate Action
FIN 3/18/21 W/D
HHS 3/24/21 DPA/SE 8-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
April 14, 2021
CRS/kja