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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
REVISED
kinship foster care; stipend
Purpose
Requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to provide a kinship foster care parent with a stipend of $300 per month for each child placed with the foster care parent.
Background
DCS is responsible for investigating reports of abuse and neglect relating to children and coordinating services to maintain permanency on behalf of the child, strengthening the family and providing prevention, intervention and treatment services (A.R.S. § 8-451).
The placement of a child who is in DCS custody is determined by the best interests of the child, and DCS must establish kinship foster care services for a child who has been removed from the child's home. A kinship foster care parent may be eligible to receive the following financial services for the child: 1) full foster care benefits, including payment if the kinship foster care parent becomes a licensed foster care home; and 2) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance payments (A.R.S. § 8-514.03).
According to a Joint Legislative Budget fiscal note, S.B. 1530 would increase state General Fund spending by $19,800,000 (JLBC fiscal note).
Provisions
1. Requires DCS to provide a kinship foster care parent with a stipend of $300 per month for each child placed with the foster care parent.
2. Repeals statute that requires the promotion of placing a child in the care of DCS with the child's relative or a person with a significant relationship to the child for kinship foster care.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Revisions
ˇ Updates the fiscal impact statement.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 24, 2022
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