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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: HHS DPA 5-2-0-0 | Third Read 22-5-3-0-0 |
SB 1174: DCS; intake hotline: case history
Sponsor: Senator Werner, LD 4
Committee on Health & Human Services
Overview
Effective January 1, 2027, requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) central intake hotline to generate a single report showing the entire history of a child and the child's siblings who have been the subject of prior hotline calls or DCS investigations. Requires hotline workers to review previous hotline calls as outlined.
History
DCS's primary purpose is to protect children. DCS must focus equally on the following: 1) investigating reports of abuse and neglect; 2) assessing, promoting and supporting children's safety with stable families or other appropriate placement in response to allegations of abuse or neglect; 3) working cooperatively with law enforcement regarding reports that include criminal conduct allegations; and 4) coordinating service to achieve and maintain permanency on behalf of the children, strengthening families and providing prevention, intervention and treatment services (A.R.S. § 8-451).
DCS is required to operate a centralized intake hotline by receiving communication regarding suspected abuse or neglect. The hotline is the first step in the safety assessment and investigation process. The Office of Child Welfare Investigations and the Inspections Bureau must have immediate access to all hotline records. In the case that a communication provides reason to believe that a criminal offense has been committed and does not meet the criteria for a DCS report, the hotline worker must immediately provide the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency (A.R.S. § 8-455).
Provisions
1. Requires the DCS central intake hotline to quickly and efficiently show in a single report the entire history of a child and the child's siblings who have been the subject of prior hotline calls or DCS investigations. (Sec. 1)
2. Directs the DCS hotline worker to review the narrative of every call received for the child in the last 90 days. (Sec. 1)
3. Requires the DCS hotline worker to review calls from the hotline that were made in the previous 90 days that did not meet the criteria for a DCS report. (Sec. 1)
4. Allows information gathered in prior DCS hotline calls to be used when determining if a new allegation meets the criteria. (Sec. 1)
5. Contains an effective date of January 1, 2027. (Sec. 1)
6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)
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10. Initials AG/TM SB 1174
11. 3/10/2026 Page 0 Health & Human Services
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