ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session

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HB 2393: adult protective services; audit; appropriation

Sponsor: Representative Dunn, LD 13

Committee on Health & Human Services

Overview

Appropriates $300,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2023 to the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to engage an independent consultant with expertise in Adult Protective Services (APS) and consider best practices to improve the delivery of services.

History

The OAG provides an independent financial, performance, and compliance audit capability in support of legislative oversight and public accountability of funds administered by the state and certain local governments.

APS is a program within the Division of Aging and Adult Services responsible for investigating allegations of abuse, exploitation and neglect of vulnerable adults. Protective services programs seek to maintain the adult in the adult's familiar environment by strengthening the adult's capacity for self-maintenance or by providing supportive services (A.R.S. § 46-451).

In 2019, the Speaker of the House of Representatives established the House Ad Hoc Committee on Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults (Committee). The purpose of the 13-member Committee was to review and identify best practices for the reporting and investigative processes to ensure the safety of vulnerable adults. One of the recommendations in the Committee's final report was to fund an independent audit of APS.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FY 2023 to the OAG to engage an independent consultant. (Sec. 2)

2. Requires the OAG to engage an independent consult with expertise in APS operations and investigations to examine APS and consider best practices to improve the delivery of services in this state, including the following:

a) Developing a strategic direction that ensures the safety of vulnerable adults and establishes protocols for services after an investigation;

b) Creating accountability mechanisms, including the capacity to produce accurate data on performance and outcome measures, use of the data for performance management, processes for continuous quality review, mechanisms for qualitative review of system functioning and outcomes for vulnerable adults;

c) Strategies for community engagement, including engagement with families, vulnerable adults and service providers; and

d) The need for and frequency of regular, periodic performance evaluations and the recommended areas for future reviews of APS by an independent outside evaluator.    (Sec. 1)

3. Outlines factors that the OAG must consider in its decision to enter into a contract with an independent consultant. (Sec. 1)

4. Requires the consultant to submit a report of its work, including findings and recommendations, to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairpersons of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults and provide a copy of its report to the Secretary of State by July 1, 2023. (Sec. 1)

5. Exempts the monies from lapsing. (Sec. 2)

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                        HB 2393

Initials AG       Page 0 Health & Human Services

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