AZ HB2659

Amends Arizona law governing contracts between the Department of Economic Security and community developmental disability service providers to clarify service requirements, monitoring procedures, and reimbursement rate studies.

Transfers programmatic and contractual monitoring responsibilities from the department to the office of licensing, certification and regulation within the department of economic security.

Requires the department to conduct comprehensive reimbursement rate studies at least once every five years for both developmentally disabled programs and elderly/physically disabled programs, examining costs for programs of all sizes in rural and urban areas.

Authorizes service providers to serve as client representative payees if requested by the client or guardian and approved by the payer, with the exception of independent providers.

Exempts the department from rule-making requirements until January 1, 2011, but requires at least two public hearings on proposed rules, with at least one hearing in a county with population under 500,000.