ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

Joint Legislative Committee on Children and Family Services

Minutes of the Meeting

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

3:00 p.m. or upon adjournment of Senate HED NFFA, FIN & House Approp, House Hearing Room 3

Members Present:

Senator Karen Johnson, Co-Chair	Representative Nancy Barto, Co-Chair
Senator Jorge Garcia	Representative David Bradley
Senator Linda Gray	Representative Judy Burges
	Representative Pete Hershberger

Members Absent:

Senator Rebecca Rios	Representative Linda Lopez
President Tim Bee

Staff:

Amber O’Dell, Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee Analyst

Eden Rolland, House Human Services Committee Analyst

Janice Almond, House Human Services Committee Intern

Chairman Barto called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. and attendance was noted.

OPENING REMARKS

Representative Barto explained the purpose of the Committee.

PRESENTATIONS

Ombudsman Report, Patrick Shanahan, Ombudsman

Patrick Shanahan, Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide, explained the Ombudsman’s role as it relates to Child Protective Services (CPS) and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Drug Monitoring Legislation, Dorothy D. Johnson, M.D., Diplomate in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Dorothy D. Johnson, M.D., Diplomate in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, presented a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Goals re Mental Health Care of Children & Youth in Foster Care” (Attachment A) and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Senator Johnson, bill sponsor, explained the background of SB 1213 – AHCCCS; children; psychiatric medications; information, which was referred to in Dr. Johnson’s presentation.

Public Testimony

Kathy Barto, representing self, testified regarding her personal experience concerning psychiatric drug treatment for children in foster care and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Psychiatric Drug Treatment for Children in Forster Care, Moyra Dolan, M.D., Director, Medical Accountability Network

Moyra Dolan, M.D., Director, Medical Accountability Network, presented a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Psychiatric Drug Treatment for Children in Foster Care” and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Public Testimony Continued

Sherri Walton, Mental Health America, testified regarding psychiatric drug treatment for children in foster care and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Ronald Clanton, representing self, testified in support of granting more authority to foster parents in Arizona, referring to a handout entitled “Empowering Foster Parents for Arizona’s Children” (Attachment B), and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Bill Marro, representing self, testified regarding a CPS case, referring to a handout entitled “Marro Case Summary” (Attachment C), and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Senator Johnson further explained the background of Mr. Marro’s case.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:33 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Ritz

Committee Secretary

(Audio recordings and attachments on file in the Secretary of Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115).

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

           Joint Legislative Committee on

Children and Family Services

February 6, 2008

Page 3

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------