AZ HB2301

Amends Arizona law to require courts to hold an "appointment review hearing" before ordering investigations in contested legal decision-making and parenting time proceedings, addressing specific issues, necessity, duration, investigator qualifications, caseload, parties' ability to pay, and alternative investigator options.

Limits court-ordered investigations to 60 days duration and 40 billed hours maximum; requires a new appointment review hearing if further investigation is needed on the identified issues.

Prohibits courts from appointing investigators who have 30 or more active appointments at the time of the appointment review hearing.

Caps the investigator's hourly billing rate at $50 total and requires courts to allocate costs based on parties' financial circumstances, ensuring no party pays more than they are reasonably able to pay.

Requires court-appointed investigators, advisors, and child's attorneys to complete minimum training: 6 initial hours on domestic violence, 6 initial hours on child abuse, and 4 hours every two years on these topics; licensed physicians are exempt from these requirements.