ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: APPROP DP 6-4-0-0 | 3rd Read 23-7-0-0
House: 3rd Read 47-12-0-1

SB 1728: human services; 2023-2024. (Substituted for HB 2818)

Sponsor: Senator Kavanagh (with permission of committee on Rules), LD 3

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Contains session law provisions relating to human services needed to implement the FY 2024 budget.

History

Extended Foster Care Program

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) may establish an Extended Foster Care Program (Program) for qualified young adults. To participate in the program, a qualified young adult must meet certain criteria. DCS must provide a progress report every six months to the Young Adult Administrative Review Panel (Panel) for each participating young adult. The Panel must review, the qualified young adult's voluntary extended foster care case plan at least once every six months. This includes reviewing the services and supports provided and needed to assist the young adult in their successful transition to adulthood.

DCS must develop and coordinate educational case management plans for participating young adults to assist them in accomplishing: 1) graduating from high school; 2) passing the statewide assessment to measure pupil achievement; 3) applying for postsecondary education and financial assistance; and 4) completing postsecondary education classes (A.R.S. § 8-521.02).

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

The TANF Block Grant is used to: 1) provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in homes of relatives; 2) end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; 3) prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies; and 4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families (42 U.S.C. § 601). The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) utilizes TANF funding to provide temporary financial assistance to dependent children in their own homes or in the homes of responsible caretaker individuals.

According to the FY 2023 Appropriations Report, produced by the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), the FY 2023 budget continued the provision that allows DES to drug test TANF recipients if there is a reasonable suspicion that they are using illegal drugs (Laws 2022, Chapter 316).

Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH)

ADOH was created in 2002 to establish policies, procedures and programs authorized to address the affordable housing issues confronting Arizona, including housing issues of low-income and moderate-income families, housing affordability, special needs populations and decaying housing stock. ADOH provides qualified housing participants and political subdivisions state financial, advisory, consultative, planning, training and educational assistance for the development of safe, decent and affordable housing. The agency is also responsible for maintaining and enforcing standards of quality and safety for manufactured homes, mobile homes and factory-built building (A.R.S. § 41-3953).

Provisions

Extended Foster Care Comprehensive Service Model

(Extended Foster Care Model)

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteDirects DCS, within 10 days of the general effective date and for FY 2024, to prepare a scope of work for an Extended Foster Care Model that includes supportive services and required case management provided by contracted community providers for young adults who participate in the Program. (Sec. 1)

2.   Requires the scope of work for the Extended Foster Care Model to include:

a)   weekly engagement with each young adult;

b)   life skills training;

c)   mental and physical health and well-being;

d)   relational permanency;

e)   education and enrollment assistance;

f) assistance with accessing safe housing attainment and stability for young adults;

g)   career and employment planning and readiness; and

h)   assistance with accessing transportation services for young adults. (Sec. 1)

Extended Foster Care Success Coaching Program (Success Coaching Program)

3.   Requires the Extended Foster Care Model to include success coaches for young adults in the Program. (Sec. 1)

4.   Requires the Success Coaching Program to be based on a practice that is youth driven to:

a)   promote permanent connections;

b)   support the development of an educational foundation and skill set that enables young adults to gain and maintain employment to support their financial needs;

c)   ensure that young adults reside in safe, stable and secure housing;

d)   link young adults to appropriate services that address physical and behavioral health needs;

e)   build skills for developing personal agency; and

f) ensure that young adults have the cognitive skills essential to survival. (Sec. 1)

5.   Requires the Success Coaching Program to:

a)   operate from an evidence-based framework;

b)   ensure that the young adults served are aware of their rights to normalcy;

c)   assist young adults to advocate with caregivers to experience activities and opportunities that meet individual interests;

d)   support caregivers in identifying root causes of behaviors that present barriers to transition and provide opportunities that assist young adults in healing and addressing underlying trauma;

e)   develop feedback that allows young adults to communicate their needs and satisfaction with provided services and to request a different extended foster care success coach;

f) deliver interventions tailored to each young adult's strengths and experiences; and

g)   contract with a public university to evaluate the effectiveness of the vendor's delivery of the Success Coaching Program. (Sec. 1)

6.   Outlines experience and education qualifications for success coaches, which include:

a)   successfully completing a DCS administered foster care success coaching training program;

b)   possessing a bachelor's or associates degree or have equivalent credits equal to an associate degree;

c)   being at least 26 years old;

d)   having experience working with youth or young adults who are 14 through 26 years old and involved in systems of care, which may include foster care, juvenile justice, runaway and homeless youth programs; and

e)   exhibiting the belief that all young adults have the capacity to be successful in life.          (Sec. 1)

7.   Specifies that the bachelor's or associates degree or equivalent credits be in the fields of:

a)   social work;

b)   psychology;

c)   counseling;

d)   marriage and family therapy; and

e)   behavioral health or education. (Sec. 1)

8.   Specifies that a success coach may possess skills that are acquired through alternative routes such as relevant job training, community college attendance, military service or an apprenticeship in lieu of a degree or credits. (Sec. 1)

9.   Limits the caseload of each success coach at 20 young adults. (Sec. 1)

10.  Instructs DCS to:

a)   solicit agencies to administer the Extended Foster Care Model within 30 days of the general effective date;

b)   select an agency or agencies within 90 days of the general effective date; and

c)   implement the Extended Foster Care Model within 150 days of the general effective date. (Sec. 1)

11.  Instructs DCS to supervise and monitor the success of the Success Coaching Program.     (Sec. 1)

12.  Requires DCS to adopt rules to implement the Extended Foster Care Model and Success Coaching Program. (Sec. 1)

Extended Foster Care Quality Review Committee (Committee)

13.  Establishes the Committee consisting of DCS staff members. (Sec. 1)

14.  Requires the Committee to confirm that a young adult who participates in the Program:

a)   meets eligibility criteria;

b)   has connections to a permanent family and supportive adults who are actively involved in the young adult's life;

c)   has a person-centered case and transition plan that supports the young adult's identified goals and future plans; and

d)   is acquiring individualized skills to develop the tools needed to thrive outside of the foster care program. (Sec. 1)

Extended Foster Care Model Reporting Requirements

15.  Directs DCS to submit a report to JLBC, Senate and House Health & Human Services Committees on the Extended Foster Care Model within 150 days after the general effective date. (Sec. 1)

16.  Requires the Extended Foster Care model report to include data and statistics on:

a)   the support and services to be offered by the Extended Foster Care Model;

b)   the Program eligibility requirements;

c)   the young adult's program responsibilities;

d)   case and transition planning opportunities;

e)   health insurance coverage for young adults in the Program;

f) educational opportunities for young adults in the Program;

g)   opportunities for mentors through the extended foster care 30 program;

h)   transportation services for young adults in the extended foster 32 care program, including obtaining a driver license; and

i)   housing, including semi-supervised living arrangements if such 34 arrangements best meet the young adult's needs. (sec. 1)

17.  Requires DCS to provide quarterly reports to JLBC that include:

a)   the number of young adults served in the Extended Foster Care Model;

b)   the young adult's participation in regular reviews with extended foster care staff; and

c)   other performance measures as updated by the Committee and determined by the Chairperson of JLBC. (Sec. 1)

18.  Defines terms. (Sec. 1)

Extended Foster Care Comprehensive Model Fund (Fund)

19.  Establishes the Fund that consists of legislative appropriations and is administered by DCS.     (Sec. 1)

20.  Specifies that Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing. (Sec. 1)

21.  Instructs DCS, in FY 2024, to use Fund monies to implement the Extended Foster Care Model. (Sec. 1)

TANF

22.  Requires DES to screen and test each adult recipient who is eligible for TANF cash benefits and who DES has reasonable cause to believe engages in the illegal use of controlled substances. (Sec. 2)

23.  Deems a TANF recipient who tests positive for the use of a controlled substance that was not prescribed for the recipient by a licensed health care provider ineligible for TANF benefits for one year. (Sec. 2)

Homeless Shelter and Services Fund (Fund)

24.  Establishes the Fund that consists of legislative appropriations, other monies directed to be deposited in the Fund and investment earning on Fund monies. (Sec. 3)

25.  Directs ADOH to administer the Fund. (Sec. 3)

26.  Specifies that Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing. (Sec. 3)

27.  Requires ADOH, in FY's 2024-2027, to use Fund monies to award grants to counties, cities, towns, Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations for programs that provide shelter and services to unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness. (Sec. 3)

28.  Instructs ADOH, by December 31, to submit an annual report to the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives describing all grants awarded in each fiscal year. (Sec. 3)

29.  Repeals the Fund and its reporting requirement on October 1, 2027. (Sec. 3)☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

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33.                    SB 1728

34.  Initials AG Page 0 Transmitted

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