Reference Title: children and family services

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A JOINT LEGISLATIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES REORGANIZATION STUDY COMMITTEE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Joint legislative children and families reorganization study committee; membership; duties

A. The joint legislative children and families reorganization study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1. Five members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more than three of whom represent the same political party. The speaker shall choose one member to cochair the committee.

2. Five members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, not more than three of whom represent the same political party. The president shall choose one member to cochair the committee.

B. The committee shall:

1. Review children and family services currently being administered by the department of economic security, the department of health services, the department of juvenile corrections, the juvenile division of the administrative offices of the Arizona supreme court, the Arizona health care cost containment system and the department of education.

2. Make recommendations to develop a long range implementation plan for a coordinated delivery system for children and family services.

3. Evaluate the fiscal impacts of establishing a children and family services agency and propose recommendations that ensure cost containment.

4. Review and make recommendations concerning all proposals for additions or modifications to the long-range implementation plan, including:

(a) Monitoring the development and quality assurance of a children and family services agency.

(b) Streamlining and coordinating licensing.

(c) Coordinating and making cost-effective the delivery of services by the department of economic security, the department of health services, the department of juvenile corrections, the juvenile division of the administrative offices of the Arizona supreme court, the Arizona health care cost containment system and the department of education.

(d) Administering a children and family services agency that includes a streamlined intake process.

(e) Establishing family notification guidelines to ensure ease of entry to and exit from programs.

(f) Making recommendations to establish a family appeals process.

(g) Streamlining and coordinating contracting.

C. The committee may appoint subcommittees that include persons who are not members of the joint committee. The subcommittees shall meet as often as necessary and shall submit recommendations to the full committee.

D. The committee shall recommend to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate that the legislature hire a consultant to provide administrative and technical assistance to the committee.

E. The committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the secretary of state and the director of the department of library, archives and public records on or before December 15, 1997.

Sec. 2. Appropriation; purpose

A. The sum of $75,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 1997-1998 jointly to the house of representatives and the senate to hire a consultant to assist the joint legislative children and families reorganization study committee.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.

Sec. 3. Delayed repeal

Section 1 of this act is repealed from and after June 31, 1998.

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 25, 1997.

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 28, 1997.