Bill Text: AZ SB1256 | 2022 | Fifty-fifth Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Community treatment program; imprisoned women
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-24 - Senate read second time [SB1256 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2022-SB1256-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: community treatment program; imprisoned women |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session 2022
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SB 1256 |
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Introduced by Senator Mesnard
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AN ACT
amending title 41, chapter 11, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-1612; appropriating monies; relating to the state department of corrections.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 41, chapter 11, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-1612, to read:
41-1612. Community treatment program for imprisoned women; eligibility
A. The department shall establish a community treatment program, including a community treatment center, for imprisoned women and their children. The department may contract with an experienced nonprofit entity to establish and operate a community treatment center and may transfer A woman who has recently given birth or who has a child who is eight years of age or younger to the community treatment center to live with her child or children in the community. A community treatment program shall provide trauma-informed substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment and the best possible care for the woman and child.
B. The department shall adopt rules for the community treatment program for imprisoned women, including the eligibility requirements for entering the program and living in a community treatment center. The rules may not allow a woman to participate in the program if the woman is excluded pursuant to subsection E of this section. The department shall take into account public safety and generally accepted correctional practices when developing and implementing the community treatment program. A community treatment program shall provide programs and support services to assist mothers and children in developing the skills necessary to BECOME functioning, self-sufficient families that positively contribute to society, including:
1. Substance abuse treatment.
2. Well-being and emotional stability.
3. Parenting skills.
4. Educational and employment skills.
5. Financial literacy.
6. Workforce skills training.
C. The department shall provide pediatric care consistent with medical standards and, to the extent feasible, shall be guided by the need to provide the following:
1. A stable, caregiving, stimulating environment for the children as developed and supervised by professional guidance in the area of child development.
2. Programs that are geared to ensure the stability of the parent-child relationship during and after participating in the program and that are developed and supervised by appropriate professional guidance. At a minimum, these programs shall be geared to accomplish the following:
(a) The mother's mental stability.
(b) The mother's familiarity with good parenting skills.
(c) The mother's ability to function in the community, on community supervision or release, as a viable community member.
(d) Securing adequate housing arrangements after participating in the program.
(e) Securing adequate child care arrangements after participating in the program.
3. The least restrictive alternative to incarceration and restraint possible to achieve the objectives of correction and of this section consistent with public safety and justice.
D. in the first year after the department establishes a community treatment program, the department shall place up to twenty women in the program. IN the second year and every year thereafter, the department shall place up to fifty women in the program. To be eligible for the program, an inmate must be any of the following:
1. A woman who gives birth to a child while imprisoned and who, on the date of entering the program, is scheduled to be released from imprisonment in five years or less.
2. A woman who is sentenced to two years of imprisonment or less and who has a child who is eight years of age or younger when the woman begins serving the woman's sentence of imprisonment.
3. A woman who has a child who is eight years of age or younger on the date that the woman has two years or less remaining on the woman's sentence of imprisonment.
E. This section does not apply to a woman who is serving a sentence for or who has ever previously been convicted of any of the following offenses:
1. Arson.
2. An offense that requires the woman to register pursuant to section 13-3821 or an offense included in title 13, chapter 14 or 35.1.
3. A dangerous crime against children.
Sec. 2. Appropriation; state department of corrections
The sum of $2,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2022-2023 to the state department of corrections for establishing and maintaining the community treatment program for imprisoned women established by section 41-1612, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.
