ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
CPS; investigations;
notification
Requires the Department of
Economic Security (DES) to provide the child’s parent, guardian or custodian
with the outcome of an investigation in child abuse or neglect allegations.
On January 1, 1998, a new
appeal process was implemented for cases in which Child Protective Services
(CPS) intends to substantiate a report.
The CPS case manager sends a proposed substantiated finding to the
protective services review team, who (1) notifies an accused person of the
intent to substantiate the allegation and (2) of the right to a hearing before
an administrative law judge. The
notification is a generic form letter to the perpetrator and does not explain
the basis for the finding. According to
ARS § 8-807, DES is allowed to summarize the outcome of a CPS investigation to
the person who reported the suspected child abuse or neglect at the discretion
of the CPS case manager. This
legislation requires DES to notify the child’s parent, guardian or custodian,
as well as the perpetrator of the outcome of the investigation. The fiscal impact is unknown.
1. Requires DES to provide the outcome of the investigation to the child’s parent, guardian or custodian.
2. Specifies when DES must provide the child’s parent, guardian or custodian with a summary of the outcome of the investigation.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Contains an effective date of September 30, 2002.
Amendments
Adopted by Committee
· Clarifies when DES will provide the parent, guardian or custodian with a summary of the outcome of the investigation as:
a) When the report is unsubstantiated.
b) After the time to request a hearing has lapsed without the DES receiving a request for a hearing.
c) After the administrative law judge determines whether probable cause exists.
Senate Action
FS 1/16/01 DPA 5-0-1
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 17, 2002