AZ SB1246

Amends Arizona Revised Statutes Section 8-512 to include behavioral health services as part of comprehensive medical and dental care provided to children in foster care, voluntary placements, and out-of-home placements.

Removes outdated language requiring the department to conduct a 2015 collaborative study on providing behavioral health services to foster children and instead mandates the inclusion of these services going forward.

Adds an exemption to the state procurement code (Section 41-2501) allowing the Department of Child Safety to contract for behavioral health services under Medicaid without following standard procurement procedures.

Makes the behavioral health services requirement conditional on federal and state funding becoming available by January 1, 2024, with the department required to notify the Arizona Legislative Council by February 1, 2024 about whether this funding condition was met.

Effective date is the later of when the funding condition is met or September 30, 2020.