Arizona 2024 Regular Session

Arizona Senate Bill SB1387 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	REFERENCE TITLE: kinship foster care stipend; increase State of Arizona Senate Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024 SB 1387 Introduced by Senators Alston: Fernandez, Gonzales, Marsh; Representatives Contreras P, Terech An Act amending section 8-514.03, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to kinship foster care. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
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9	9	REFERENCE TITLE: kinship foster care stipend; increase
10	10	State of Arizona Senate Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024
11	11	SB 1387
12	12	Introduced by Senators Alston: Fernandez, Gonzales, Marsh; Representatives Contreras P, Terech
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14	14	REFERENCE TITLE: kinship foster care stipend; increase
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22	22	State of Arizona
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36	36	SB 1387
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40	40	Introduced by
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42	42	Senators Alston: Fernandez, Gonzales, Marsh; Representatives Contreras P, Terech
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60	60	An Act
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64	64	amending section 8-514.03, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to kinship foster care.
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70	70	(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
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74	74	Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Section 8-514.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read: START_STATUTE8-514.03. Kinship foster care; requirements; investigation A. The department shall establish kinship foster care services for a child who has been removed from the child's home and who is in the custody of the department. The program shall promote the placement of the child with the child's relative or a person with a significant relationship with the child for kinship foster care. B. A kinship foster care parent applicant who is not a licensed foster care parent shall be at least eighteen years of age. The applicant and each member of the applicant's household who is at least eighteen years of age shall submit a full set of fingerprints to the department of child safety for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check pursuant to section 41-1750 and Public Law 92-544. The department of public safety may exchange this fingerprint data with the federal bureau of investigation. The department of child safety shall determine if the applicant is able to meet the child's health and safety needs by conducting one or more home visits and interviewing the applicant. The department of child safety may interview other household members, review the applicant's personal and professional references and conduct department of child safety central registry checks. C. If the department determines that a kinship foster care placement is not in the best interest of the child, the department shall provide written notification to the applicant within fifteen business days. The notice shall include the specific reason for denial, the applicant's right to appeal and the process for reviewing the decision. D. A kinship foster care parent may be eligible to receive the following financial services for the child: 1. Full foster care benefits, including payment if the kinship foster care parent becomes a licensed foster care home or if the kinship foster care parent obtains a restricted license pursuant to section 8-509, subsection C. 2. Temporary assistance for needy families cash assistance payments for a child only case and supplemental financial support. E. The department shall establish procedures for child welfare workers to inform kinship foster care families about available financial and nonfinancial services and eligibility requirements and shall assist the families in completing the necessary application. F. If a family declines to apply for financial services, the family shall sign a statement indicating that the family declined services. The statement does not prevent the family from making application in the future. The worker shall provide a copy of the statement to the family. G. The department shall provide nonfinancial services for a kinship foster care parent through existing means or referral. Nonfinancial services may include: 1. Family assessment. 2. Case management. 3. Child day care. 4. Housing search and relocation. 5. Parenting skills training. 6. Supportive intervention and guidance counseling. 7. Transportation. 8. Emergency services. 9. Parent aid services. 10. Respite services. 11. Additional services that the department determines are necessary to meet the needs of the child and family. H. The department shall provide a kinship foster care parent with a stipend per month for each child who is placed with the kinship foster care parent. The stipend shall be at least: 1. $300 from and after December 31, 2024 through December 31, 2025. 2. $400 from and after December 31, 2025 through December 31, 2026. 3. $500 from and after December 31, 2026 through December 31, 2027. 4. $600 from and after December 31, 2027. END_STATUTE
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76	76	Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
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78	78	Section 1. Section 8-514.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
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80	80	START_STATUTE8-514.03. Kinship foster care; requirements; investigation
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82	82	A. The department shall establish kinship foster care services for a child who has been removed from the child's home and who is in the custody of the department. The program shall promote the placement of the child with the child's relative or a person with a significant relationship with the child for kinship foster care.
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84	84	B. A kinship foster care parent applicant who is not a licensed foster care parent shall be at least eighteen years of age. The applicant and each member of the applicant's household who is at least eighteen years of age shall submit a full set of fingerprints to the department of child safety for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check pursuant to section 41-1750 and Public Law 92-544. The department of public safety may exchange this fingerprint data with the federal bureau of investigation. The department of child safety shall determine if the applicant is able to meet the child's health and safety needs by conducting one or more home visits and interviewing the applicant. The department of child safety may interview other household members, review the applicant's personal and professional references and conduct department of child safety central registry checks.
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86	86	C. If the department determines that a kinship foster care placement is not in the best interest of the child, the department shall provide written notification to the applicant within fifteen business days. The notice shall include the specific reason for denial, the applicant's right to appeal and the process for reviewing the decision.
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88	88	D. A kinship foster care parent may be eligible to receive the following financial services for the child:
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90	90	1. Full foster care benefits, including payment if the kinship foster care parent becomes a licensed foster care home or if the kinship foster care parent obtains a restricted license pursuant to section 8-509, subsection C.
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92	92	2. Temporary assistance for needy families cash assistance payments for a child only case and supplemental financial support.
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94	94	E. The department shall establish procedures for child welfare workers to inform kinship foster care families about available financial and nonfinancial services and eligibility requirements and shall assist the families in completing the necessary application.
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96	96	F. If a family declines to apply for financial services, the family shall sign a statement indicating that the family declined services. The statement does not prevent the family from making application in the future. The worker shall provide a copy of the statement to the family.
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98	98	G. The department shall provide nonfinancial services for a kinship foster care parent through existing means or referral. Nonfinancial services may include:
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100	100	1. Family assessment.
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102	102	2. Case management.
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104	104	3. Child day care.
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106	106	4. Housing search and relocation.
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108	108	5. Parenting skills training.
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110	110	6. Supportive intervention and guidance counseling.
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112	112	7. Transportation.
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114	114	8. Emergency services.
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116	116	9. Parent aid services.
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118	118	10. Respite services.
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120	120	11. Additional services that the department determines are necessary to meet the needs of the child and family.
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122	122	H. The department shall provide a kinship foster care parent with a stipend per month for each child who is placed with the kinship foster care parent. The stipend shall be at least:
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124	124	1. $300 from and after December 31, 2024 through December 31, 2025.
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126	126	2. $400 from and after December 31, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
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128	128	3. $500 from and after December 31, 2026 through December 31, 2027.
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130	130	4. $600 from and after December 31, 2027. END_STATUTE