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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
RESEARCH STAFF
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BARBARA GUENTHER LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE Telephone: (602) 542-3171 Facsimile: (602) 542-7833 |
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
DATE: March 30, 2001
SUBJECT: Strike-everything
amendment to H.B. 2208 state archives building.
The strike-everything amendment to H.B. 2208 appropriates from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant to the Department of Economic Security (DES) $1 million in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 to provide supplemental financial assistance to children residing with grandparents and $4 million in FY 2001-2002 to contract with providers to establish and operate out-of-school programs for youth ages 11 through 16.
Background
The number of children in kinship foster care has grown dramatically during the past decade. Nationally, almost one-third of all children in foster care currently live with relatives. Grandparents on a fixed income are sometimes not financially able to care for their grandchildren without government assistance. The current TANF cash assistance benefit for one child residing with a relative is $204 per month.
According to the National Center for Juvenile Justice, peak
hours of violent juvenile crime are 3 P.M. to 6 P.M. These hours are also linked to teen sexual activity, cigarette
smoking, alcohol and other drug use and becoming victims of crime. A recent
survey of law enforcement officials conducted by Fight Crimes: Invest in Kids
ranked after-school and educational child care as the top strategy to reduce
youth violence. The National Academy of Sciences reported in 2000 that older
adolescents have not been engaged in after-school programs and are most in need
of guidance, positive adult mentors and role models.
The Department of Economic Security (DES) administers several child care programs for children who are under the age of 13 and independent living skills programs for youth in foster care who are over the age of 15. There are no state-funded programs for youth ages 13 through 15. The strike-everything amendment authorizes DES to contract with providers who will establish and operate out-of-school programs for youth ages 11 through 16. It specifies requirements for DES, the providers, the programs and the evaluator.
The strike-everything amendment appropriates $6 million from the TANF block grant to DES, $1 million in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 for supplemental financial assistance to children residing with grandparents and $4 million in FY 2001-2002 for contracted out-of-school programs. The out-of-school program appropriation is exempt from lapsing until July 1, 2004, by which time the programs are supposed to be self-sustaining. The total DES administrative and evaluation costs for the out-of-school programs are limited to 3 percent of the appropriation.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $1 million TANF funds to DES in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 to supplement TANF cash assistance for foster children residing with their grandparents, up to a total of $250 per month per child, including the supplement.
2. Appropriates $4 million TANF funds to DES in FY 2001-2002 to contract with providers establishing and operating out-of-school programs. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing until July 1, 2004.
DES Requirements
3. Requires DES to give preference for providers in communities with high rates of teen pregnancy, violence, delinquency and participation in free or reduced price lunch programs.
4. Requires DES to contract in at least one urban and one rural community.
5. Requires DES to contract for an annual program evaluation.
6. Allows DES to use up to 3 percent for administrative costs and program evaluation.
Provider Requirements
7. Requires providers to include in proposals a basis for determining their program activities are innovative and incorporate best practices.
8. Requires providers to include in proposals a plan for programs to be self-sustaining within 3 years.
9. Requires providers to offer programs at no or minimal cost to the youths.
10. Requires providers to collaborate with parents, schools, local business, child care programs, public and private agencies and other concerned citizens to maximize the impact of the programs.
11. Requires providers to identify youths who have received a negative pregnancy test or who have siblings that are pregnant or parenting youths and conduct outreach activities to the identified youths.
12. Requires providers to coordinate with agencies serving younger children to provide activities for siblings of youth participating in programs.
13. Requires providers to transport youth between program sites, the youth’s home and school.
14. Requires providers to adequately train staff and volunteers.
15. Restricts providers from providing activities to groups of more than 30 youth and restricts adult group leaders from supervising more than 13 youth.
16. Allows providers to permit youth to work with younger children under adult supervision and specifies that the youth is not an adult leader.
Program Requirements
17. Requires a program to provide a diverse choice of activities from a specific list.
18. Requires a program to build on strengths of individuals and communities.
19. Requires a program to use youths as a resource to strengthen and build communities.
20. Requires a program to provide nutritious snacks.
21. Requires a program to be culturally appropriate.
22. Requires a program to be in a structured, safe and supervised environment.
23. Allows a program to provide incentives for youth participation.
Evaluation Requirements
24. Requires the evaluator to develop measurement instruments with providers.
25. Requires the evaluator to collect specified information on participating youth.
26. Requires the evaluator to submit an annual report to DES.
Other
27. Terminates contracts for out-of-school programs on July 1, 2004 or earlier.
28. Repeals the out-of-school programs on January 1, 2005.
29. Contains definitions.
30. Provides for a general effective date.
BEG/ac
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