Arizona SB 1597: mental health court; incompetency; diversion

Bill Text

SB1597 - 572R - I Ver 

 REFERENCE TITLE: child care; waiting list; appropriation

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 SB 1597

 Introduced by 

 Senator 
 Alston: Representative Connolly

AN 
ACT

amending section 46-803, Arizona 
Revised Statutes; appropriating monies; relating to child care.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 46-803, Arizona 
Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE46-803. Eligibility for child care assistance

A. The department shall provide child care 
assistance to eligible families who are attempting to achieve independence from 
the cash assistance program and who need child care assistance in support of 
and as specified in their personal responsibility agreement pursuant to 
chapters 1 and 2 of this title.

B. The department shall provide child care 
assistance to eligible families who are transitioning off cash assistance due 
to increased earnings or child support income in order to accept or maintain 
employment. Eligible families must request this assistance within 
six months after the cash assistance case closure. Child care 
assistance may be provided for up to twenty-four months after the case 
closure and shall cease after a time period specified in rule by the department 
once the family income exceeds one hundred sixty-five percent of the 
federal poverty level but remains below eighty-five percent of the state 
median income. If the family income exceeds eighty-five 
percent of the state median income, child care assistance shall cease on 
notification by the department.

C. The department shall provide child care 
assistance to eligible families who are diverted from cash assistance pursuant 
to section 46-298 in order to obtain or maintain 
employment. Child care assistance may be provided for up to twenty-four 
months after the case closure and shall cease after a time period specified in 
rule by the department once the family income exceeds one hundred sixty-five 
percent of the federal poverty level but remains below eighty-five 
percent of the state median income. If the family income exceeds 
eighty-five percent of the state median income, child care assistance 
shall cease on notification by the department.

D. The department may provide child care assistance 
to support eligible families with incomes of one hundred sixty-five 
percent or less of the federal poverty level at the time of application to 
accept or maintain employment. Child care assistance shall cease 
after a time period specified in rule by the department once the family income 
exceeds one hundred sixty-five percent of the federal poverty level but 
remains below eighty-five percent of the state median 
income. If the family income exceeds eighty-five percent of 
the state median income, child care assistance shall cease on notification by 
the department. Priority for this child care assistance shall be 
given to families with incomes of one hundred percent or less of the federal 
poverty level.

E. The department may provide child care assistance 
to families referred by the department of child safety and to children in 
foster care pursuant to title 8, chapter 4 to support child protection.

F. The department may provide child care assistance 
to special circumstance families whose incomes are one hundred sixty-five 
percent or less of the federal poverty level at the time of application and who 
are unable to provide child care for a portion of a twenty-four-hour 
day due to a crisis situation of domestic violence or homelessness, or a 
physical, mental, emotional or medical condition, participation in a drug 
treatment or drug rehabilitation program or court-ordered community 
restitution.� Child care assistance shall cease after a time period specified 
in rule by the department once the family income exceeds one hundred sixty-five 
percent of the federal poverty level but remains below eighty-five 
percent of the state median income. If the family income exceeds 
eighty-five percent of the state median income, child care assistance 
shall cease on notification by the department. Priority for this 
child care assistance shall be given to families with incomes of one hundred 
percent or less of the federal poverty level.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section, the department may reduce maximum income eligibility levels for child 
care assistance in order to manage within appropriated and available monies. 
The department shall notify the joint legislative budget committee of any 
change in maximum income eligibility levels for child care assistance within 
fifteen days after implementing the change.

H. In lieu of the employment activity required in 
subsection B, C or D of this section, the department may allow eligible 
families with teenaged custodial parents under twenty years of age to complete 
a high school diploma or it