ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
juvenile group homes
Requires
the licensing authority to consider comments from municipalities before
renewing a juvenile group home license, expands the information included in the
central registry of juvenile group homes and requires the Department of Health
Services to provide central registry information to municipalities on a regular
basis and on request.
The
Department of Health Services (DHS) through the regional behavioral health
authorities contracts for group home placements for medically necessary
residential services for children to address mental health needs. The Department of Economic Security
contracts for group home placements for children in need of that level of
service for reasons other than medical necessity. The Administrative Office of the Courts contracts for residential
services for delinquent and incorrigible children. Contracts are regulated through the Arizona Procurement
Code. Each agency also has rules
governing the licensing of group homes for their specific purposes.
Laws
2000, Chapter 270 codified contracting provisions, established financial
sanctions for violations and established a central registry for juvenile group
homes. Provisions requiring informational meetings and comment solicitation
from municipalities were deleted because they violated federal fair housing
standards.
The bill requires a
licensing authority to consider comments received from municipalities, but does
not require the authority to solicit comments.
It restricts consideration of comments to those regarding health, care
and safety of a resident or a neighbor. It also limits comments from the
municipality to information obtained from public records for the current
licensure period.
S.B.
1235 expands the information that DHS must maintain in the central registry of
juvenile group homes. In addition to
locations and emergency contacts for the group homes, DHS must include the number
of residents at each group home or satellite, the nature or type of
disabilities of the residents at each location and contacts for the licensing
authority. The bill also requires DHS to provide registry information to
municipalities on a regular basis and on request.
No
fiscal note was requested from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The fiscal impact of expanding the licensing
renewal process and central registry requirements is unknown.
1. Requires a licensing authority, before renewing a license, to consider comments on specified topics received from the municipality where the group home is located.
2. Restricts municipality comments to public records applicable to the current licensure period.
3. Expands required information included in the central registry of juvenile group homes. Adds number of residents, nature or type of disability of the residents and licensing authority contacts.
4. Requires DHS to provide central registry information to the municipality where the group home is located on a regular basis and upon request.
5. Requires group homes to comply with laws.
6. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 29, 2001