Assigned to HHS                                                                                                                     FOR COMMITTEE

 


 

 

 


ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1018

 

DCS; report requirement

Purpose

            Requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), by December 31, 2021, to report specified information related to complex trauma.

Background

            Established in 2014, DCS's primary purpose is to protect children through investigation, assessment and support for the safety of children from abuse, neglect and other criminal conduct allegations. DCS is required to coordinate services to achieve and maintain permanency on behalf of the child, strengthen the family and provide prevention, intervention and treatment services without compromising child safety (A.R.S. § 8-451). AHCCCS is Arizona's Medicaid program which is a federal health care program jointly funded by the federal and state governments for individuals and families who qualify based on income level (AHCCCS).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.      Requires, by December 31, 2021, DCS and AHCCCS to report to the Chairpersons of the House of Representatives and Senate Committees on Health and Human Services on the following:

a)      system improvements for children who are adopted out of foster care with complex trauma that results in dangerous behaviors;

b)      an evaluation, including outcome data, of programs and services offered by other states that address complex trauma; and

c)      mechanisms within DCS for suspending parental rights when the adoptive child is a danger to the family as corroborated by law enforcement while maintaining the goal of permanency as required by federal law or other alternatives to terminating parental rights.

2.      Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

January 11, 2021

CRS/kja