SB 1076
Initials AG/JB Page 1 Health & Human Services
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
Senate: HHS DPA/SE 8-0-0-0 | 3
rd
Read 29-0-1-0
SB 1076: DCS; hotline allegation data; evaluation
Sponsor: Senator Barto, LD 15
Committee on Health & Human Services
Overview
Directs the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to engage an independent advanced analytics
consultant to identify associations between hotline allegations data within DCS reports and the
need for protective service response.
History
The Arizona Child Abuse Hotline is operated by DCS for the purpose of receiving communications
concerning suspected child abuse and neglect. The Arizona Child Abuse Hotline allows any
individual who reasonably believes a minor to be a victim of abuse to report the suspected child
abuse through a toll-free telephone number and electronic reporting service. Specific accusations
of child abuse may include physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, exploitation
and abandonment.
Statute outlines what must be included in the DCS report. A hotline worker is required to prepare
a DCS report if the identity or current location of the child victim, child's family or the person
suspected of abuse or neglect is known or can be reasonably ascertained to and if all of the
following is alleged: 1) the suspected conduct would constitute abuse or neglect; 2) the suspected
victim is under eighteen years of age and is a resident of or present in this state; and 3) the person
suspected of committing the abuse or neglect is the parent, guardian or custodian of the victim or
an adult member of the victim's household. Except for criminal conduct allegations, DCS is not
required to prepare a DCS report if the suspected conduct occurred more than three years before
the communication on the hotline or if there is no information or indication that a child is currently
being abused or neglected (A.R.S. § 8-455).
Laws 2017, Chapter 282, Sec. 5. establishes the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on DCS
(DCS Committee) and outlines membership and requires them to review: 1) DCS's
implementation of policy and procedures and program effectiveness; 2) all reports on program
outcomes released by DCS for trends and areas for statutory improvement and audits issued by
the Office of the Auditor General related to DCS; and 3) policies and procedures relating to
guardianships and dependency proceedings. The DCS Committee must meet at least biannually
and ends on July 1, 2025.
Provisions
1. Directs DCS to engage an independent consultant with expertise in advanced analytics to
identify statistically significant associations between hotline allegation data within DCS reports
and the need for protective service response. (Sec. 1)
2. Specifies that hotline allegation data must include the subcategories of abuse and neglect
recorded by the DCS hotline on receipt of a DCS hotline report. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note SB 1076
Initials AG/JB Page 2 Health & Human Services
3. Outlines what must be provided in the independent evaluation. (Sec. 1)
4. Requires the independent consultant to submit a report of its work to the Governor, President
of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Co-chairpersons of the DCS
Committee and provide a copy to the Secretary of State by July 1, 2023. (Sec. 1)
5. Contains a repeal date of January 1, 2024. (Sec. 1)