HB2439 - 451R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

HB 2439

appropriations; domestic violence

Sponsors: Representatives Somers Loredo Binder, et al.

dpa	Committee on Human Services
DPA	Committee on Appropriations
DPA	Caucus and COW	This bill as passed the House contains *an Appropriation clause.*
x	As Passed the House

HB 2439 amends the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Plan Task Force (Task Force) by adding a gubernatorially appointed representative of the sexual assault medical community to the Task Force, requiring a separate consolidated state plan for sexual assault issues, adding various criteria to be included in each consolidated plan, and including an additional planning process. HB 2439 also appropriates $1.25 million from the state general fund in each of FYs 2001-02 and 2002‑03 to the Department of Economic Security, Community Services Administration for domestic violence victims and their children.

Provisions

· Adds a representative of the sexual assault medical community, appointed by the governor, to the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault State Plan Task Force.

· Requires that the Task Force develop a separate consolidated plan to address sexual assault issues. Currently the Task Force is charged with developing a single consolidated plan which exists for both domestic violence and sexual assault issues.

· Stipulates that in addition to a list of requirements, each plan shall include:

· A statewide policy on the subject of the plan.

· A process to evaluate different facets of the systemic response system.

· An analysis of impacts on tribal nations, rural Arizona and unserved/underserved populations.

· A mechanism to facilitate an evaluation of components of the program.

· Stipulates that each planning process shall include:

· Statewide public hearings.

· Facilitation of focus groups, to include victims and members of the systemic response system, which shall be conducted in rural, urban and tribal areas.

· Comprehensive research regarding best practices, system evaluation and funding methods.

· Review and incorporation of existing plans.

· Recommendations for a standardized method of collection of statistical data from the systemic response system.

· Extends the date by which the Task Force must report from December 1, 2000 to December 31, 2002.

· Appropriates $200,000 from the state general fund in FY 2001-02 to the Governor’s Office for an independent contractor to assist the Task Force.

· Allows the Governor’s Office to seek other funding to assist the Task Force but stipulates that the availability of other monies will reduce the appropriation by the same amount.

· Exempts appropriations from lapsing and reverts unencumbered and unexpended monies to the state general fund after December 31, 2003.

· Extends the delayed repeal date of the Task Force from June 30, 2001 to July 31, 2003.

· Appropriates $1.25 million from the state general fund in each of FYs 2001-02 and 2002-03 to the Community Services Administration of DES for existing, emerging and expanding emergency residential, transitional and other legal programs for domestic violence victims and their children.

· Stipulates that the Community Services Administration of DES shall consult a statewide coalition against domestic violence in order to establish program priorities for the monies.

· Divides the $1.25 million to be dispersed each fiscal year as follows:

· $475,000 to provide emergency residential shelter and related services for domestic violence victims and their children, pursuant to statute.

· $250,000 for civil legal assistance for domestic violence victims.

· $275,000 for programs providing transitional housing services for homeless individuals and their families

· $250,000 for services to families including domestic violence victims and their children.

· Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.

· Makes technical and conforming changes.

HB 2439 was amended in the Human Services Committee to include families in the appropriation for transitional housing services for the homeless.

HB 2439 was amended in the Appropriations Committee as follows:

· Reduces the appropriations by 75%.

The Human Services Committee and Appropriations Committee amendments were adopted in Committee of the Whole and HB 2439 was amended on the floor as follows: