SB 1493 Summary

• Establishes an independent oversight committee on residential care facilities providing services to migrant children, with staff support provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

• Committee membership includes four legislative members (two from House, two from Senate), the board of fingerprinting chairperson, and eleven members appointed by the governor representing legal services, child advocacy, counseling, social work, education, psychology, law enforcement, immigration services, pediatrics, foster care, and foreign consulates.

• Committee duties include recommending improvements to facility services (medical care, counseling, case management, education, legal representation, recreation) and reviewing facility and employee records, complaints, and service data.

• Committee members may access employee information and records, facility records regarding services and length of stay, and tour facilities with reasonable notice; child information may be released without personally identifiable information unless required for official purposes.

• Committee shall issue reports with recommendations by December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 to the governor, legislature, and health services director; the section repeals June 30, 2021.