ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

Senate: HHS DPA 7-0-0-0 |ATT DPA 9-0-1-0 |Third Read 26-0-4-0-0

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

SB 1602: kinship foster care stipend; increase

Sponsor: Senator Alston, LD 5

Committee on Health & Human Services

Overview

Mandates that the Department of Child Safety (DCS) provide a monthly stipend to a kinship foster care parent for each child who is placed with the kinship foster care parent. Details minimum stipend amounts.

History

Kinship foster care is the placement of a child by DCS with a relative or a person who has a significant relationship with the child. DCS establishes kinship foster care services for a child who has been removed from their home and who is in DCS custody. A kinship foster care parent may be eligible to receive certain financial services for the child. DCS is responsible for establishing procedures for child welfare workers to inform kinship foster care families about available financial and nonfinancial services and eligibility requirements (A.R.S. § 8-514.03).

DCS currently provides a daily foster home rate on behalf of each foster child placed in a licensed foster home. This rate is between $19.68 and $27.15 per day for each child in the home, depending upon the child's age. Each foster child also has a daily clothing and personal allowance which ranges from $19 to $80 per month per child, depending upon the child's age. DCS also provides special allowances for specific expenses incurred on behalf of foster children with licensed and unlicensed caregivers (DCS).

Provisions

1.   Requires DCS to provide a kinship foster care parent with a monthly stipend for each child who is placed with the kinship foster care parent. (Sec. 1)

2.   Specifies that the stipend must be at least:

a.   $400 on January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027;

b.   $500 on January 1, 2028 through December 31, 2028; and

c. $600 on January 1, 2029. (Sec. 1)

3.   Makes a technical change. (Sec. 1)

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7.   Initials AG/IG                 SB 1602

8.   3/17/2026  Page 0 Health & Human Services

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