AZ SB1539

Establishes kinship foster care services for children removed from their homes, promoting placement with relatives or individuals with significant relationships with the child.

Requires kinship foster care parent applicants to be at least 18 years old and submit to state and federal criminal records checks; allows the department to conduct home visits, interviews, and reference checks.

Provides kinship foster care parents with access to full foster care benefits, temporary assistance for needy families cash assistance, and nonfinancial services including case management, child day care, parenting training, and respite services.

Mandates the department provide kinship foster care parents with a monthly stipend of $150 per child placed in their care.

Repeals conflicting language from a prior 2018 statute amendment regarding kinship foster care provisions.