ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
CORRECTED
appropriations; domestic
violence
Expands
the amount of information that the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault State
Plan Task Force (task force) is required to report and extends the reporting
deadline to December 2002. Appropriates
$1.25 million in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 to the Department of
Economic Security (DES) for emergency residential, transitional and legal
programs for domestic violence victims and their children. Appropriates an additional $200,000 in FY
2001-2002 from the state general fund to the Governor’s Office to hire an
independent contractor.
Laws
2000, Chapter 122 established the task force, charging it with the
responsibility of developing a single statewide plan to ensure coordinated and
efficient use of resources used to address domestic violence and sexual assault
issues. The plan was to identify such
things as available resources, gaps in services, methods for coordinating
efforts by state agencies and other organizations, and an evaluation process.
However, because several
task force members were not appointed until October 2000, the task force was
unable to complete its plan by the December 2000 deadline and is seeking an
extension. The task force indicates
that the planning process will take at least a year, and H.B. 2439 extends
the reporting deadline to December 2002.
In addition, the task force members identified some legislative changes
that could better help them address domestic violence and sexual assault
issues. Specifically, the task force
proposes completing separate plans for domestic violence and sexual assault,
and expanding the information required in each plan.
H.B. 2439 incorporates the
task force’s recommendations for plan development, and appropriates $200,000
from the state general fund to the Governor’s Office to assist the task
force. The Arizona Coalition Against Domestic
Violence (ACADV) reports that Department of Justice studies show the most
effective assistance to prevent repeated domestic violence is legal assistance,
which would be funded under this bill.
ACADV also reports that in FY 1999-2000, 16,121 women and children
requesting shelter were unable to receive services due to a lack of available
space. H.B. 2439 appropriates funds for
this purpose.
1. Adds a Governor-appointed representative of the sexual assault medical community to the task force.
2. Requires the task force to develop two separate state plans to ensure resources are coordinated and used efficiently to address: a) domestic violence prevention, prosecution and supportive services and b) sexual assault prevention, prosecution and supportive services. Currently, these plans are incorporated into one consolidated plan.
3. Expands the types of information that must be contained in each plan to include such things as a statewide policy statement; a process for evaluating the systemic response system; and a process for evaluating domestic violence or sexual assault policies, systems and services.
4. Requires that the planning process include such things as statewide public hearings, focus groups, research about best practices and funding, and recommendations for standardizing data collection.
5. Extends the deadline for reporting the plans to the Legislature and Governor from December 1, 2000 to December 31, 2002.
6. Appropriates $200,000 in FY 2001-2002 from the state general fund to the Governor’s Office to hire an independent contractor.
7. Allows the Governor’s Office to pursue other funding sources to assist the task force and reduces the appropriation by the amount of other monies available.
8. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing, except that unexpended and unencumbered monies remaining on December 31, 2003 revert to the state general fund.
9. Appropriates $1.25 million from the state general fund in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 to DES community services administration for existing, emerging and expanding residential, transitional and legal programs for domestic violence victims and their children.
10. Requires DES to establish program priorities for funds distributed to DES after full consultation with a statewide coalition against domestic violence.
11. Distributes the $1.25 million for domestic violence services for each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 as follows:
· $475,000 to provide emergency residential shelter and related services.
· $250,000 to fund civil legal assistance.
· $275,000 for transitional housing programs that provide services to homeless individuals and families.
· $250,000 for programs providing services to families, including domestic violence victims and their children.
12. Delays repeal of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault State Plan Task Force until July 31, 2003.
13. Makes conforming and technical changes.
14. Provides for a general effective date.
House Action
HS 2/6/01 DPA 10-0-0-0
APPROP 3/6/01 DPA 13-0-0-3
3rd Read 3/14/01 48-5-7-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 27, 2001