Bill Text: AZ SB1394 | 2021 | Fifty-fifth Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced

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Bill Title: Conference; children and youth; committee

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-01-28 - Senate read second time [SB1394 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2021-SB1394-Introduced.html

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REFERENCE TITLE: conference; children and youth; committee

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

 

 

 

SB 1394

 

Introduced by

Senators Marsh: Bowie, Contreras, Gonzales, Mendez, Navarrete, Steele; Representatives Cano, Hernandez M, Pawlik, Salman

 

 

AN ACT

 

establishing the Arizona conference on children and youth committee.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Arizona conference on children and youth committee membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The Arizona conference on children and youth committee is established consisting of the following members:

1.  One member of the majority party in the senate who is appointed by the president of the senate.

2.  One member of the minority party in the senate who is appointed by the minority leader.

3.  One member of the majority party in the house of representatives who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

4.  One member of the minority party in the house of representatives who is appointed by the minority leader.

5.  A representative of the governor's office who is appointed by the governor.

6.  A representative of the department of child safety who is appointed by the director of the department.

7.  A representative of the department of education who is appointed by the superintendent of public instruction.

8.  The following member who are appointed by the governor;

(a)  Five members, each of whom experienced, as a child or as a parent, one or more of the following:

(i)  Poverty.

(ii)  Immigrant status.

(iii)  Child abuse or neglect.

(iv)  Foster care.

(v)  Food assistance.

(vi)  Inadequate access to children's health care or child care.

(b)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that advocates for the needs of Native American children.

(c)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that advocates for the needs of immigrant children. 

(d)  One representative of a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses research, data and policy solutions to advocate at the legislature for improved child well‑being. 

(e)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that represents the faith-based community. 

(f)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that advocates for children aged birth to five years. 

(g)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that advocates for children in foster care. 

(h)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that advocates for children who are abused or neglected. 

(i)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that advocates to prevent food insecurity.

(j)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that advocates for the health care needs of children. 

(k)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that has experience holding statewide town hall events on a variety of issues. 

(l)  One representative of a nonprofit organization that advocates for the needs of African‑American children.

B.  Appointed members serve at the pleasure of the person who made the appointment.

C.  Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation.

D.||The committee shall:

1.  Hold the Arizona conference on children and youth for the purposes prescribed in subsection E of this section on or before December 15, 2021.

2.  Enable the attendance and full participation at the conference by an appropriate number of residents of this state who reflect the diversity of this state's population, including residents of urban communities and residents of rural communities and persons who have experienced poverty, childhood abuse or neglect, foster care, racism, discrimination or immigrant status.

3.  Establish procedures for attendees of the conference, either individually or through subgroups, to make findings and recommendations to the committee to be included in the conference’s final report and recommendations.

4.  On or before December 31, 2021, submit a report regarding the findings, policy proposals, suggested legislation and other recommendations of the conference to the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

E.  The conference shall identify, develop and recommend policy solutions and legislation that will improve the lives of children and youth in this state by examining a comprehensive range of issues that impact the well‑being of children in this state, including:

1.  The early childhood years from birth to five years of age.

2.  The health care needs of all children.

3.  The child welfare system in this state and its ability to prevent child abuse and neglect and protect children who are abused or neglected.

4.  The well-being of children who are placed in kinship or foster care.

5.  The conditions that lead to children and families living in poverty.

6.  Children in this state who are food insecure with limited access to enough food for an active, healthy life.

7.  Racial inequities and disparate impacts on children of color caused by past and current practices and policies.

8.  The disparate availability of services and resources for Native American children.

F.  The committee may:

1.  Partner with one or more nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, health care providers, foundations or governmental entities to provide staffing and support including:

(a)  Preparing research, reports and background materials.

(b)  Analyzing data.

(c)  Polling and surveying.

(d)  Administering meeting registrations.

(e)  Assembling materials for conference attendees.

(f)  Securing meeting locations and handling other meeting logistics.

2.  Solicit grants, donations and other funding to financially support the conference and other needs to further the purposes of this section.

G.  The house of representatives, the senate and the legislative council shall provide staff support to the committee.

H.  This section is repealed from and after June 30, 2022.