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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
child services; abuse reporting; jurisdiction
Purpose
Exempts DCS from reporting requirements concerning acts of alleged abuse or neglect of a child that take place in a foreign country if the child is under custody of the federal government.
Background
The centralized intake hotline is the DCS system established to protect children by receiving, at all times, communications concerning suspected abuse or neglect. The hotline is the first step in the safety assessment and investigation process and must be operated to: 1) record communications concerning suspected abuse or neglect; 2) immediately take steps necessary to identify and locate prior communications and DCS reports related to the current communication using DCS's data system and the central registry system of Arizona; 3) quickly and efficiently provide information to a law enforcement agency or prepare a DCS report as required; and 4) determine the proper initial priority level of investigation based on the report screening assessment and direct the report to the appropriate division of DCS. If the identity or current location of the child victim, victim's family or the suspected abuser is known and outlined criteria apply, a hotline worker must prepare a DCS report (A.R.S. § 8-455).
Any person who reasonably believes that a minor is the victim of physical injury, abuse, or neglect that appears to have been inflicted by nonaccidental means must immediately report or cause reports to be made of this information to a peace officer, DCS or a tribal law enforcement or social services agency, if applicable (A.R.S. § 13-3620).
Under current statute, except in the case of criminal conduct allegations, DCS is not required to prepare a report if the following apply: 1) the suspected conduct occurred more than three years before the communication to the centralized intake hotline; and 2) there is no information or indication that a child is currently being abused or neglected (A.R.S. § 8-455).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Specifies that DCS is not required to prepare a report for any concerns relating to acts of alleged abuse or neglect that take place in a foreign country, if the child is under custody of the federal government.
2. Makes conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Removes the requirement that DCS transfer reports made concerning Indian children residing or domiciled on an Indian reservation to the appropriate jurisdictional tribal social services agency.
House Action Senate Action
HHS 2/14/22 DPA 9-0-0-0 HHS 3/9/22 DP 6-0-2
3rd Read 2/23/22 57-2-1
Prepared by Senate Research
April 7, 2022
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