NOMINEE REQUIRING SENATE CONFIRMATION

EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT BACKGROUND SUMMARY

 

 

NOMINEE:               Arturo Gonzalez

 

POSITION:               Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board, Member,                                         Maricopa County, Republican

 

REPLACING:          Gary Pasquinelli (resigned)

 

APPOINTING GOVERNOR:        Janice K. Brewer

 

DATE OF APPOINTMENT:  March 25, 2009

 

TERM ENDS: January 17, 2011

 

FUNCTION OF THE Arizona early childhood development and health board:

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 8-1192, the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board (Board) is responsible for conducting a biannual assessment of the following: a) existing early childhood development and health programs in this state; b) any unmet early childhood development and health needs of Arizona children; c) utilization of available federal, state, and private funds; d) suggestions for improved program coordination; and e) outcomes for children and families. The Board also administers the distribution of monies from the Early Childhood Development and Health Fund (Fund) to Regional Partnership Councils, who then grant dollars to local grant recipients. While the Regional Councils are being established, however, statute allows the Board to allocate resources without Regional Partnership Council input for FY 2007-2008 and FY 2008-2009. The Board/Regional Council system of allocating grant dollars will be in place starting in FY 2009-2010. To improve the quality of, and access to, early childhood development and health opportunities for Arizona children, the Board must also solicit private funds from individuals, corporations and foundations. Section 8-1195, A.R.S., also requires the Board to appoint and set the compensation of the Executive Director, who authorizes all expenditures of monies in the Fund.

 

STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR POSITION:

The Board consists of nine appointed members and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Director of the Department of Health Services and the Director of the Department of Economic Security who serve as nonvoting ex officio members. The term of each appointed member is six years, to begin and end on the third Monday in January. Members are appointed by the Governor and must meet the following requirements: a) they must have demonstrated interest or experience in early childhood development and health; b) they must include residents of at least four counties; c) no more than four members can be residents of the same county; d) no more than four members can be registered members of the same political party; and e) members cannot have a substantial interest in the provision of early childhood education services (A.R.S. § 8-1191).

 

 

 

 

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP AND TERM EXPIRATIONS:

*Arturo Gonzalez                   Maricopa County, Republican           01/19/2011

Cecil Patterson                        Maricopa County, Republican            01/19/2015

Eugene Thompson                  Yavapai County, Democrat                01/21/2013

Nadine Mathis Basha              Maricopa County, Republican            01/21/2013

Pamela Powell                         Coconino County, Independent         01/17/2011

Rhian Evans-Allen                  Pima County, Democrat                     01/21/2013

Steven W. Lynn                      Pima County, Independent                 01/19/2015

VACANT                                                                                           01/19/2009

Vivian Saunders                      Pinal County, Democrat                     01/17/2011

* Pending Confirmation

 

 

SALARY OR OTHER COMPENSATION:

Members of the Board are not eligible to receive compensation, but are eligible for travel expenses and reimbursement for subsistence. Reimbursement is paid on claims approved by the Executive Director from the Administrative Costs Account of the Fund.

 

BUDGET AND FTES:       

Proposition 203, passed in 2006, increased the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products and allocated the monies generated by the tax increase to various early childhood development and health care programs. The state tax on cigarettes increased by 80 cents per pack; the tax on other types of tobacco products increased by a similar amount. The Board has collected $327.7 million in revenues since the Board’s inception and expenditures total $16.8 million. Of this amount $16.6 million has been used for administrative costs, which include leasing of office space, purchase of supplies and hiring 107 full time equivalent positions. In FY 2007-2008, tobacco tax revenues were $164.8 million and investment income totaled $6.1 million.

 

NOMINEE’S QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Education:    

Universidad Autonoma de Guadelajara, M.D., 1980

Universidad Autonoma de Guadelajara, B.S., 1976

 

Employment:

Scottsdale Children’s Group, Physician Partner, 2001 to Present

Scottsdale Healthcare Family Care, Department of Pediatrics, 1998 to 2001

Arizona Physicians Center, Department of Pediatrics, 1993 to 1998

University of Arizona Cancer Center, 1987 to 1990

 

Other Qualifications:

American Academy of Pediatrics, Member 1990 to Present, Community Clinical Preceptor/PCH, 2000 to Present, Secretary 2006 to 2008; Vice President/President Elect, 2008 to Present; Arizona Medical Association, Member; Medical Home, Project Co-Coordinator 1999 to 2002; CATCH, facilitator 1999 to 2002; CATCH Facilitator Award; Mario Merlino M.D. Award; Pediatric Resident Award of Excellence.

 

Public Safety and Human Services Committee

April 30, 2009