SB 1529 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Economic Security to reduce maximum income eligibility levels for child care assistance during fiscal year 2017-2018 to manage within appropriated and available monies, with notification required to the joint legislative budget committee within 15 days of implementation.

• Requires the Department of Economic Security to screen and test adult temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) cash benefit recipients for whom there is reasonable cause to believe they engage in illegal use of controlled substances; recipients testing positive for unprescribed controlled substances are ineligible for benefits for one year.

• Requires the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board and Department of Child Safety to jointly report to the joint legislative budget committee on coordination efforts addressing child welfare issues, to be submitted by February 1, 2018.

• Directs the auditor general to provide reports to state leadership on the Department of Child Safety's caseworker caseload standards (due December 31, 2018) and foster parent recruitment and retention practices (due September 30, 2019), including comparisons with best practices and other states' standards.