ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

HB 2274: appropriation; stipend; kinship foster care

Sponsor: Representative Weninger, LD 17

Committee on Health & Human Services

Overview

Appropriates $24.2 million from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2023 to the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to use for $300 monthly stipends per child for specified caretakers. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing and deems the funds ongoing for future years.

History

The primary purpose of DCS is to protect children. To achieve this DCS will do and focus equally on: 1) investigating reports of abuse and neglect; 2) assessing, promoting and supporting the safety of a child in a safe and stable family or other appropriate placement in response to allegations of abuse and neglect; 3) cooperating with law enforcement regarding reports that include allegations of criminal conduct; and 4) coordinating services to achieve and maintain permanency for the child, strengthen the family and provide prevention, intervention and treatment services without compromising the child's safety (A.R.S. § 8-451).

The DCS must establish kinship foster care services for a child who has been removed from their home and is in the custody of DCS. The program will promote the placement of the child with a relative or a person with a significant relationship with the child for kinship foster care (A.R.S. § 8-514.03).

Provisions

1. Appropriates $24,200,000 from the state GF in FY 2023 to DCS for $300 stipends per month per child for certain relative caretakers. (Sec. 1)

2. Stipulates that the kinship foster care parent is not required to file an application to receive the stipend. (Sec. 1)

3. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing. (Sec. 1)

4. Deems that the Legislature intends the appropriation to be considered ongoing in future years. (Sec. 1)

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8. HB 2274

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