ESTABLISHING THE ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1.
A. The adoption and foster care system improvement committee is established consisting of the following members:
1. The chairman of the family services committee in the senate who shall cochair the committee.
2. The chairman of the human services committee in the house of representatives who shall cochair the committee.
3. Two members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who represent different political parties.
4. Two members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate and who represent different political parties.
5. The ombudsman-citizens aide or a person from that office who is designated by the ombudsman-citizens aide and who is experienced with child protective services issues.
6. A current or recent member of the state foster care review board established by section 8-515.04, Arizona Revised Statutes. The governor shall appoint this member.
7. Two judges from the juvenile court. The chief justice of the supreme court shall appoint these members.
8. The director of the department of economic security or the director's designee.
9. The attorney general or the attorney general's designee.
10. Three adoptive parents. The governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall each appoint one member. At least one of these members shall be a single parent appointed by the governor.
11. Three foster parents. The governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall each appoint one member. At least one of these members shall be a single parent appointed by the governor.
12. Two representatives from private adoption agencies, at least one of whom has placed older, special needs children. The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall each appoint one member.
13. A person who serves as a court appointed special advocate pursuant to section 8-523, Arizona Revised Statutes. The governor shall appoint this member.
14. One representative of a foster care shelter. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint this member.
15. One representative of a foster care group home. The president of the senate shall appoint this member.
16. One representative of a private nonprofit organization of tribal governments in this state who is familiar with foster care and adoption issues. The governor shall appoint this member.
17. One representative from a nonprofit children's advocacy organization in this state who is familiar with foster care and adoption issues. The governor shall appoint this member.
B. Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation, but members appointed pursuant to subsection A, paragraphs 10 through 16 of this section are eligible for reimbursement of expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.
C. The committee shall:
1. Meet at the call of either cochairperson but not less than once every two months.
2. Develop a foster parents and adoptive parents bill of rights that outlines what parents may reasonably expect from the state and what parents can do if their rights are violated.
3. Review the processes within the foster care and adoption system that delay or impede adoptions of children in state care and make recommendations to solve these problems.
4. Submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on or before November 15 of each year. The committee shall submit copies of its report to the secretary of state and the director of the department of library, archives and public records.
Sec. 2.
Section 1 of this act, relating to the adoption and foster care system improvement committee, is repealed from and after June 30, 2003.
APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 27, 1999.
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 27, 1999.
Click here to return to the A.L.I.S. Home Page.