HB 2951 Summary

• Establishes a Child and Family Representation Program within the Administrative Office of the Courts to oversee quality legal representation for children and parents in dependency proceedings, including training standards, practice audits, and ethical complaint filing.

• Creates compensation for erroneously convicted persons including $400,000 per year of incarceration (200% of median household income), up to $500,000 additional damages, $25,000 per year on death row, and reintegrative services; requires automatic expungement and civil rights restoration upon conviction reversal or pardon.

• Prohibits judicial officers and court employees from serving on state-authorized boards or commissions and freezes salaries for family law judges and employees for fiscal years 2025-2026 through 2027-2028.

• Amends the anti-racketeering revolving fund to prohibit using forfeiture monies to pay attorney general salaries and requires detailed quarterly reporting on fund sources and expenditures to the legislature and criminal justice commission.

• Removes the administrative director of courts from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission membership and extends the Fentanyl Prosecution, Diversion and Testing Fund sunset date from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2027.