Assigned to FS                                                                                           AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1235

 

juvenile group homes

 

Purpose

 

            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 requesting municipalities on a quarterly basis.

 

Background

 

            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.

 

            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 and contacts for the licensing authority. The bill also requires DHS to provide registry information to municipalities that request this information, on a quarterly basis.

 

            No fiscal note was requested from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.  The fiscal impact of expanding the central registry requirements is unknown.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Expands required information included in the central registry of juvenile group homes. Adds number of residents and licensing authority contacts.

 

2.      Requires DHS to provide central registry information to the municipality where the group home is located on a quarterly basis, if the municipality requests this information.

 

3.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee

 

1.      Eliminates nature or type of disability of residents from central registry information collected and disseminated.

 

2.      Specifies central registry reports are provided quarterly.

 

3.      Adds reasonable accommodation to types of laws with which group homes must comply.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole

 

1.      Deletes requirement to comply with laws.

 

2.      Deletes references to comments from municipalities.

 

3.      Restricts providing central registry information to municipalities requesting it.

 

Senate Action

 

FS                    1/31/01            DPA    4-2-0-0

3rd Read           2/21/01                        28-8-1-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

February 22, 2001