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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
foster care review board; continuation
Purpose
Continues the Arizona Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) for four years.
Background
The primary role
of FCRB is to advise juvenile courts on progress toward achieving a permanent
home for children involved in a dependency case and in out-of-home care. FCRB
consists of 123 local foster care review boards (local boards) and one State
Foster Care Review Board (State Board). The State Board provides
recommendations to the Arizona Supreme Court, Governor and Legislature
regarding foster care statutes, policies and procedures. The State Board
consists of three members appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court that have
knowledge of the problems of foster care, as well as: 1) in counties with only
one local board, one juvenile
court-appointed local board member; and 2) in counties with more than one local
board, one juvenile court-appointed local board member for every 10 boards in
the county, not exceeding six members in total. Members of the State Board who
are local board members serve terms that are coterminous with their local board
terms. Members appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court serve terms that are at
least two years long, not exceeding five years (Arizona Supreme Court and A.R.S.
§ 8-515.04).
A local board, consisting of five volunteer members, is established in each county for every 100 children placed in out-of-home care. Statute requires local boards to review the case of each child involved in a dependency action and in out-of-home care within six months of the child's placement and every six months thereafter, as well as to send reports and recommendations on each case to the presiding Juvenile Court Judge, the supervising agency, the child's parents, foster parents, counselors, attorneys and other appropriate interested parties within 30 days of the review (A.R.S. §§ 8-515-.01 and 8-515.03).
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee of Reference (COR) held a public meeting on January 3, 2024, to review and evaluate FCRB's response to the sunset review factors and receive public testimony. The COR recommended that FCRB be continued for not more than four years, until July 1, 2028. (COR Report). The Board is set to terminate on July 1, 2024, unless continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. § 41-3024.30).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2024, FCRB until July 1, 2028.
2. Repeals FCRB on January 1, 2029.
3. Contains a purpose statement.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactive provision as noted.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 15, 2024
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