Assigned to HHS & APPROP FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1305
temporary assistance; child only case
Purpose
Expands the definition of child only case, for purposes of Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) Cash Assistance eligibility, to include cases in which an eligible dependent child
is living with an unrelated adult or nonparent relative that is both responsible for meeting the basic
needs of the child and is not receiving Cash Assistance.
Background
The Department of Economic Security (DES) administers the TANF Cash Assistance
Program to provide temporary cash benefits and supportive services to Arizona children and
families. To be eligible for Cash Assistance, a family's net monthly income cannot exceed: 1) 130
percent of the current federal poverty level (FPL) for families in which the head-of-household is a
nonparent relative requesting Cash Assistance only for the dependent children; or 2) 100 percent
of the current FPL for all other families. However, these income limitations do not apply to child
only cases, and instead only the income of the dependent child is considered (A.R.S. § 46-292;
A.A.C. R6-12-701). A family receiving Cash Assistance for themselves or on behalf of a
dependent child is limited to 12 months of benefits, with certain exceptions. This 12-month time
limit on Cash Assistance does not apply to child only cases (A.R.S. § 46-294).
A child only case is a case in which an eligible dependent child is in the legal custody of
the Department of Child Safety, a tribal court or a tribal child welfare agency in Arizona and placed
in foster care with an unrelated adult or a nonparent relative who is not receiving Cash Assistance
(A.R.S. § 46-101).
If there is a cost associated with expanding the number of child only cases qualified for
Cash Assistance, there may be a fiscal impact to the state General Fund.
Provisions
1. Expands the definition of child only case, for purposes of Cash Assistance eligibility, to include
cases in which an eligible dependent child is living with an unrelated adult or nonparent relative
that is both responsible for meeting the basic needs of the child and is not receiving Cash
Assistance.
2. Specifies that a child only case benefit amount is based on available monies as determined by DES.
3. Makes conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 17, 2025
MM/AO/slp