Senate Bill 1247 Summary

• Creates reporting requirement for behavioral health residential facilities serving children that contract exclusively with the federal government to report significant harm incidents to the Arizona Department of Health Services within 24 hours.

• Expands central registry background check requirements to include employees of federally-contracted behavioral health residential facilities serving children, effective September 1, 2019.

• Requires behavioral health residential facilities serving children to notify the Department of Health Services within 30 days of beginning exclusive federal contracting and ceasing state contracts.

• Modifies accreditation standards for behavioral health residential facilities serving children by requiring independent nonprofit accreditation approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and no enforcement actions within the preceding year before accepting accreditation in lieu of compliance inspections.

• Establishes emergency operative status for the bill to take effect immediately upon approval.