AZ HB2398

Amends Arizona Revised Statutes section 8-526 to modify the Department of Child Services' semiannual reporting requirements on child welfare and out-of-home placements.

Adds requirement to include the reason reports were considered unsubstantiated when reporting on investigation outcomes categorized by substantiated, proposed for substantiation, or unsubstantiated findings.

Maintains existing comprehensive data collection requirements covering child removals, foster home licensing, case plan goals, adoptions, disruptions, child deaths, and other child welfare metrics to be reported to the Governor, legislature, and state library.

Requires the department to describe three to five major challenges it faces in achieving safe and permanent homes for abused and neglected children based on each reporting period's data.

Reports must be submitted within three months after each semiannual reporting period ending March 31 and September 30.