§ 41-1292 — Joint legislative oversight committee on the department of child safety

Arizona § 41-1292

• Jurisdiction: Arizona
• Title 41: Arizona Revised Statutes
• Ch. 7: LEGISLATURE
• Art. 12: Joint Legislative Committees

Text

A. The joint legislative oversight committee on the department of child safety is established consisting of the following members:

1. The chairperson of the senate committee that addresses child safety issues.

2. The chairperson of the house of representatives committee that addresses child safety issues.

3. Two members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate and who are members of different political parties.

4. Two members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who are members of different political parties.

B. The chairperson of the senate committee that addresses child safety issues and the chairperson of the house of representatives committee that addresses child safety issues shall serve as cochairpersons.

C. The committee shall meet at least biannually, and a majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

D. The committee shall review:

1. The department's implementation of policy and procedures and program effectiveness.

2. All reports on program outcomes released by the department to the legislature for trends and areas for statutory improvement and audits issued by the office of the auditor general related to the department.

3. Policies and procedures relating to guardianships and dependency proceedings.

4. Systemic factors related to alleged child maltreatment fatalities and near fatalities. In reviewing alleged child maltreatment fatalities or near fatalities, the committee may:

(a) Critically analyze the systemic factors that may have contributed to an alleged child maltreatment fatality or near fatality, including the laws, policies and practices of the department of child safety, the department of economic security, the Arizona health care cost containment system and any other state agency that may have been involved in the safety and welfare of the child or with the child's family and the perpetrator, including any economic, health, social services, supports and resources, to identify improvements that could mitigate future child maltreatment fatalities or near fatalities.

(b) Review interagency coordination and communication.

(c) Identify best practices and services that may prevent future maltreatment fatalities or near fatalities and review the recommendations submitted by the child safety fatality and near fatality review team established by section 8-469 and the state fatality review team established by section 36-3501.

(d) Enter into executive session when necessary to promote the privacy and safety of the decedent’s family or employees of the department of child safety.

(e) Review reports produced and presented by the child safety fatality and near fatality review team established by section 8-469 and request additional information and follow up on details associated with a report.