Assigned to HHS AS PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1258
foster care review board; continuation
Purpose
Continues the Arizona Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) for four years.
Background
The primary role of the FCRB is to advise juvenile courts on progress toward achieving a
permanent home for children involved in a dependency case and in out-of-home care. The FCRB
consists of 123 local foster care review boards (local boards) and one State Foster Care Review
Board (State Board). The State Board provides recommendations to the Arizona Supreme Court,
Governor and Legislature regarding foster care statutes, policies and procedures. The State Board
consists of three members appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court that have knowledge of the
problems of foster care, as well as: 1) in counties with only one local board, one juvenile
court-appointed local board member; and 2) in counties with more than one local board, one
juvenile court-appointed local board member for every 10 boards in the county, not exceeding six
members in total. Members of the State Board who are local board members serve terms that are
coterminous with their local board terms. Members appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court serve
terms that are at least two years long, not exceeding five years (Arizona Supreme Court and A.R.S.
§ 8-515.04).
A local board, consisting of five volunteer members, is established in each county for every
100 children placed in out-of-home care. Statute requires local boards to review the case of each
child involved in a dependency action and in out-of-home care within six months of the child's
placement and every six months thereafter, as well as to send reports and recommendations on
each case to the presiding juvenile court judge, the supervising agency, the child's parents, foster
parents, counselors, attorneys and other appropriate interested parties within 30 days of the review
(A.R.S. §§ 8-515.01 and 8-515.03).
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee of Reference (COR) held a public
meeting on January 3, 2024, to review and evaluate the FCRB's response to the sunset review
factors and receive public testimony. The COR recommended that the FCRB be continued for not
more than four years, until July 1, 2028 (COR Report). The Board is set to terminate on July 1,
2024, unless continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. § 41-3024.30).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2024, the FCRB until July 1, 2028. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1258
Page 2
2. Repeals the FCRB on January 1, 2029.
3. Contains a purpose statement.
4. Requires the State Board to create an annual report containing the:
a) number of times the State Board failed to submit reports to a juvenile court within a time
frame allowing for sufficient time for judicial review before a dependency hearing;
b) State Board's progress in facilitating and increasing parent and foster parent attendance at
local board reviews; and
c) number of times the State Board failed to timely and accurately enter data regarding child
dependency cases and local board reviews into the State Board data system.
5. Requires, by November 1 of each year, the State Board to submit the report to the:
a) Governor;
b) President of the Senate,
c) Speaker of the House of Representatives;
d) the Chairpersons of the Health and Human Services Committees of the Senate and House
of Representatives or their successor committees; and
e) the Secretary of State.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactive provision as noted.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires the State Board to create an annual report containing the:
a) number of times the State Board failed to submit reports to a juvenile court within a time
frame allowing for sufficient time for judicial review before a dependency hearing;
b) State Board's progress in facilitating and increasing parent and foster parent attendance at
local board reviews; and
c) number of times the State Board failed to timely and accurately enter data regarding child
dependency cases and local board reviews into the State Board data system.
2. Requires, by November 1 of each year, the State Board to submit the report to the:
a) Governor;
b) President of the Senate,
c) Speaker of the House of Representatives;
d) the Chairpersons of the Health and Human Services Committees of the Senate and House
of Representatives or their successor committees; and
e) the Secretary of State.
Senate Action
HHS 2/20/24 DP 6-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 13, 2024
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