HB 2053
Initials AG/KM Page 1 House Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
House: HHS DP 9-0-0-0 | APPROPS DPA 11-1-3-0
HB 2053: nurse-home visitation; program; appropriations
Sponsor: Representative Bliss, LD 1
House Engrossed
Overview
Establishes an evidence-based Nurse-Home Visitor Grant Program (Grant Program) within the
Department of Child Safety (DCS). Appropriates $15,000,000 and 5 FTEs from the state General
Fund (GF) in FY 2024 to DCS to award grant monies to eligible organizations to provide voluntary,
evidence-based nurse-home visiting services for a three-year period to first-time, low-income
expectant mothers.
History
DCS's purpose is to protect children by doing the following: 1) investigate reports of abuse and
neglect; 2) assess, promote and support the safety of a child in a safe and stable family or other
appropriate placement in response to allegations of abuse or neglect; 3) work cooperatively with
law enforcement regarding reports that include criminal conduct allegations; and 4) without
compromising child safety, coordinate services to achieve and maintain permanency on behalf of
the child, strengthen the family and provide prevention, intervention and treatment services
(A.R.S. § 8-451).
Provisions
1. Establishes the Grant Program within DCS to prevent child maltreatment and neglect, improve
maternal and child health and promote families' economic mobility. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires DCS to award grant monies to at least one eligible organization to provide voluntary,
evidence-based nurse-home visiting services for a three-year period to first-time, low-income
expectant mothers who voluntarily enroll before their third trimester. (Sec. 1)
3. Specifies that evidence-based nurse-home visiting services include:
a) assessments and screenings;
b) care coordination;
c) case management;
d) preventive education and counseling;
e) nurse-delivered interventions and referrals to health and human services;
f) educational or job development resources; and
g) other appropriate supports. (Sec. 1)
4. Specifies that the evidence-based nurse-home visiting services must be available through the
second birthday of children born to participating new mothers. (Sec. 1)
5. States that organizations that are eligible to receive a grant include public and private entities,
nonprofit organizations, tribal nations, county and other local government entities. (Sec. 1)
6. Outlines criteria for DCS to consider when determining which organizations should receive
monies through the Grant Program. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2053
Initials AG/KM Page 2 House Engrossed
7. Requires grant recipients to submit to DCS for the purpose of evaluating successful service
delivery, data as prescribed in the children's health bureau title IV-E prevention program data
elements to the extent it is collected as standard practice in the course of service delivery.
(Sec. 1)
8. Instructs DCS to publish a report by August 31 for the next three years containing the following
information for the previous fiscal year:
a) the number of grants awarded, the recipient organizations and the number of expected
participants to be served;
b) the number of unduplicated participants enrolled during the reporting period for each
recipient organization;
c) the total number of hours spent providing home-visiting services; and
d) other data and information related to the health and well-being of participating mothers
and their children as standard practice in the course of service delivery. (Sec. 1)
9. Appropriates $15,000,000 and 5 FTEs in FY 2024 from the state GF to DCS to administer the
Grant Program. (Sec. 2)
10. Allows DCS to use up to $382,500 appropriated in fiscal years 2024 through 2026 for
administrative costs. (Sec. 2)
11. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing and reverts any remaining monies back to the state
GF on January 1, 2028. (Sec. 2)
12. Contains legislative findings. (Sec. 3)
13. Terminates the Grant Program on January 1, 2028. (Sec. 1)