Arizona 2023 2023 Regular Session

Arizona House Bill HB2818 Comm Sub / Analysis

Filed 05/09/2023

                      	HB 2818 
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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Fifty-sixth Legislature 
First Regular Session 
House: APPROP DP 10-5-0-0 
 
HB 2818: human services; 2023-2024 
Sponsor: Representative Livingston, LD 28 
Caucus & COW 
Overview 
Contains session law provisions relating to human services needed to implement the FY 2024 
budget. 
History 
Extended Foster Care Program 
The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) may establish an Extended Foster Care Program 
(Program) for qualified young adults. To participate in the program, a qualified young adult must 
meet certain criteria. DCS must provide a progress report every six months to the Young Adult 
Administrative Review Panel (Panel) for each participating young adult. The Panel must review, 
the qualified young adult's voluntary extended foster care case plan at least once every six 
months. This includes reviewing the services and supports provided and needed to assist the 
young adult in their successful transition to adulthood. 
DCS must develop and coordinate educational case management plans for participating young 
adults to assist them in accomplishing: 1) graduating from high school; 2) passing the statewide 
assessment to measure pupil achievement; 3) applying for postsecondary education and financial 
assistance; and 4) completing postsecondary education classes (A.R.S. § 8-521.02). 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 
The TANF Block Grant is used to: 1) provide assistance to needy families so that children may 
be cared for in their own homes or in homes of relatives; 2) end the dependence of needy parents 
on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; 3) prevent and reduce 
the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing 
and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies; and 4) encourage the formation and 
maintenance of two-parent families (42 U.S.C. § 601). The Arizona Department of Economic 
Security (DES) utilizes TANF funding to provide temporary financial assistance to dependent 
children in their own homes or in the homes of responsible caretaker individuals.  
According to the FY 2023 Appropriations Report, produced by the Arizona Joint Legislative 
Budget Committee (JLBC), the FY 2023 budget continued the provision that allows DES to drug 
test TANF recipients if there is a reasonable suspicion that they are using illegal drugs (Laws 
2022, Chapter 316).  
Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) 
ADOH was created in 2002 to establish policies, procedures and programs authorized to address 
the affordable housing issues confronting Arizona, including housing issues of low-income and 
moderate-income families, housing affordability, special needs populations and decaying housing 
stock. ADOH provides qualified housing participants and political subdivisions state financial, 
advisory, consultative, planning, training and educational assistance for the development of safe, 
decent and affordable housing. The agency is also responsible for maintaining and enforcing    	HB 2818 
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standards of quality and safety for manufactured homes, mobile homes and factory-built building 
(A.R.S. § 41-3953). 
Provisions 
Extended Foster Care Comprehensive Service Model  
(Extended Foster Care Model) 
1. Directs DCS, within 10 days of the general effective date and for FY 2024, to prepare a scope 
of work for an Extended Foster Care Model that includes supportive services and required 
case management provided by contracted community providers for young adults who 
participate in the Program. (Sec. 1) 
2. Requires the scope of work for the Extended Foster Care Model to include: 
a) weekly engagement with each young adult; 
b) life skills training; 
c) mental and physical health and well-being; 
d) relational permanency;  
e) education and enrollment assistance; 
f) assistance with accessing safe housing attainment and stability for young adults; 
g) career and employment planning and readiness; and 
h) assistance with accessing transportation services for young adults. (Sec. 1) 
Extended Foster Care Success Coaching Program (Success Coaching Program) 
3. Requires the Extended Foster Care Model to include success coaches for young adults in the 
Program. (Sec. 1) 
4. Requires the Success Coaching Program to be based on a practice that is youth driven to: 
a) promote permanent connections; 
b) support the development of an educational foundation and skill set that enables young 
adults to gain and maintain employment to support their financial needs;  
c) ensure that young adults reside in safe, stable and secure housing; 
d) link young adults to appropriate services that address physical and behavioral health 
needs;  
e) build skills for developing personal agency; and 
f) ensure that young adults have the cognitive skills essential to survival. (Sec. 1) 
5. Requires the Success Coaching Program to: 
a) operate from an evidence-based framework; 
b) ensure that the young adults served are aware of their rights to normalcy; 
c) assist young adults to advocate with caregivers to experience activities and opportunities 
that meet individual interests; 
d) support caregivers in identifying root causes of behaviors that present barriers to transition 
and provide opportunities that assist young adults in healing and addressing underlying 
trauma; 
e) develop feedback that allows young adults to communicate their needs and satisfaction 
with provided services and to request a different extended foster care success coach; 
f) deliver interventions tailored to each young adult's strengths and experiences; and 
g) contract with a public university to evaluate the effectiveness of the vendor's delivery of 
the Success Coaching Program. (Sec. 1) 
6. Outlines experience and education qualifications for success coaches, which include: 
a) successfully completing a DCS administered foster care success coaching training 
program; 
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note    	HB 2818 
Initials AG 	Page 3 	Caucus & COW 
b) possessing a bachelor's or associates degree or have equivalent credits equal to an 
associate degree; 
c) being at least 26 years old; 
d) having experience working with youth or young adults who are 14 through 26 years old 
and involved in systems of care, which may include foster care, juvenile justice, runaway 
and homeless youth programs; and 
e) exhibiting the belief that all young adults have the capacity to be successful in life.          
(Sec. 1) 
7. Specifies that the bachelor's or associates degree or equivalent credits be in the fields of: 
a) social work; 
b) psychology; 
c) counseling; 
d) marriage and family therapy; and 
e) behavioral health or education. (Sec. 1) 
8. Specifies that a success coach may possess skills that are acquired through alternative routes 
such as relevant job training, community college attendance, military service or an 
apprenticeship in lieu of a degree or credits. (Sec. 1) 
9. Limits the caseload of each success coach at 20 young adults. (Sec. 1) 
10. Instructs DCS to: 
a) solicit agencies to administer the Extended Foster Care Model within 30 days of the 
general effective date; 
b) select an agency or agencies within 90 days of the general effective date; and 
c) implement the Extended Foster Care Model within 150 days of the general effective date. 
(Sec. 1) 
11. Instructs DCS to supervise and monitor the success of the Success Coaching Program.     
(Sec. 1) 
12. Requires DCS to adopt rules to implement the Extended Foster Care Model and Success 
Coaching Program. (Sec. 1) 
Extended Foster Care Quality Review Committee (Committee) 
13. Establishes the Committee consisting of DCS staff members. (Sec. 1) 
14. Requires the Committee to confirm that a young adult who participates in the Program: 
a) meets eligibility criteria; 
b) has connections to a permanent family and supportive adults who are actively involved in 
the young adult's life; 
c) has a person-centered case and transition plan that supports the young adult's identified 
goals and future plans; and 
d) is acquiring individualized skills to develop the tools needed to thrive outside of the foster 
care program. (Sec. 1) 
Extended Foster Care Model Reporting Requirements 
15. Directs DCS to submit a report to JLBC, Senate and House Health & Human Services 
Committees on the Extended Foster Care Model within 150 days after the general effective 
date. (Sec. 1)  
16. Requires the Extended Foster Care model report to include data and statistics on: 
a) the support and services to be offered by the Extended Foster Care Model; 
b) the Program eligibility requirements; 
c) the young adult's program responsibilities;    	HB 2818 
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d) case and transition planning opportunities; 
e) health insurance coverage for young adults in the Program; 
f) educational opportunities for young adults in the Program; 
g) opportunities for mentors through the extended foster care 30 program; 
h) transportation services for young adults in the extended foster 32 care program, including 
obtaining a driver license; and 
i) housing, including semi-supervised living arrangements if such 34 arrangements best 
meet the young adult's needs. (sec. 1) 
17. Requires DCS to provide quarterly reports to JLBC that include: 
a) the number of young adults served in the Extended Foster Care Model; 
b) the young adult's participation in regular reviews with extended foster care staff; and 
c) other performance measures as updated by the Committee and determined by the 
Chairperson of JLBC. (Sec. 1) 
18. Defines terms. (Sec. 1) 
Extended Foster Care Comprehensive Model Fund (Fund) 
19. Establishes the Fund that consists of legislative appropriations and is administered by DCS.    
(Sec. 1) 
20. Specifies that Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing. (Sec. 1)  
21. Instructs DCS, in FY 2024, to use Fund monies to implement the Extended Foster Care Model. 
(Sec. 1) 
TANF  
22. Requires DES to screen and test each adult recipient who is eligible for TANF cash benefits 
and who DES has reasonable cause to believe engages in the illegal use of controlled 
substances. (Sec. 2) 
23. Deems a TANF recipient who tests positive for the use of a controlled substance that was not 
prescribed for the recipient by a licensed health care provider ineligible for TANF benefits for 
one year. (Sec. 2) 
Homeless Shelter and Services Fund (Fund) 
24. Establishes the Fund that consists of legislative appropriations, other monies directed to be 
deposited in the Fund and investment earning on Fund monies. (Sec. 3) 
25. Directs ADOH to administer the Fund. (Sec. 3) 
26. Specifies that Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing. (Sec. 3) 
27. Requires ADOH, in FY's 2024-2027, to use Fund monies to award grants to counties, cities, 
towns, Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations for programs that provide shelter and services 
to unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness. (Sec. 3) 
28. Instructs ADOH, by December 31, to submit an annual report to the Governor, President of 
the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives describing all grants awarded in 
each fiscal year. (Sec. 3) 
29. Repeals the Fund and its reporting requirement on October 1, 2027. (Sec. 3) 
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note