AZ SB1452

Expands kinship care placement preferences and requires the Department of Child Safety to identify and notify adult relatives within 30 days of taking a child into custody, with placement timelines of 30-90 days depending on whether the relative is in-state or out-of-state.

Establishes new requirements for determining "best interests of the child" in kinship placements, including consideration of permanence, sibling placement, domestic violence, prior successful placements, and the parent's opinion.

Creates mandatory notice and determination procedures for "aggravating circumstances" (in utero substance exposure with dangerous drugs or long-standing drug use) for children under three years old, with expedited termination of parental rights timelines if aggravating circumstances exist.

Adds specific definitions and standards for what constitutes non-compliance with reunification services (80% attendance thresholds for treatment, visitation, and court hearings; drug screening requirements) and requires department to file termination petitions if parents fail to substantially comply within 90 days.

Makes appointment of guardians ad litem mandatory in dependency cases (rather than discretionary), requires courts to appoint them to children in department custody, and establishes attorney fee awards when guardians ad litem report department failures to the court.