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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
foster care review board; continuation
Purpose
Continues the Arizona Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) for four years.
Background
The primary role of the 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. The 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 the FCRB's response to the sunset review factors and receive public testimony. The COR recommended that the 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, the FCRB until July 1, 2028.
2. Repeals the FCRB on January 1, 2029.
3. Contains a purpose statement.
4. Requires the State Board to create an annual report containing the:
a) number of times the State Board failed to submit reports to a juvenile court within a time frame allowing for sufficient time for judicial review before a dependency hearing;
b) State Board's progress in facilitating and increasing parent and foster parent attendance at local board reviews; and
c) number of times the State Board failed to timely and accurately enter data regarding child dependency cases and local board reviews into the State Board data system.
5. Requires, by November 1 of each year, the State Board to submit the report to the:
a) Governor;
b) President of the Senate,
c) Speaker of the House of Representatives;
d) the Chairpersons of the Health and Human Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives or their successor committees; and
e) the Secretary of State.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactive provision as noted.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires the State Board to create an annual report containing the:
a) number of times the State Board failed to submit reports to a juvenile court within a time frame allowing for sufficient time for judicial review before a dependency hearing;
b) State Board's progress in facilitating and increasing parent and foster parent attendance at local board reviews; and
c) number of times the State Board failed to timely and accurately enter data regarding child dependency cases and local board reviews into the State Board data system.
2. Requires, by November 1 of each year, the State Board to submit the report to the:
a) Governor;
b) President of the Senate,
c) Speaker of the House of Representatives;
d) the Chairpersons of the Health and Human Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives or their successor committees; and
e) the Secretary of State.
Senate Action
HHS 2/20/24 DP 6-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 13, 2024
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