Legislature Approves Major CPS Reforms

(State Capitol, Phoenix) – Spurred by the tragic and unnecessary deaths of three Tucson children, Reps. Jonathan Paton and Kirk Adams set out to reform Child Protective Services.

Their efforts culminated in the passage of four bills Thursday. HB2453, HB2454, HB2455 and HB2159 are all on their way to the governor for her signature.

Most significant of the package, HB2454 opens the CPS records of those children who are killed or seriously injured. Currently, the public must sue CPS to obtain the records, a costly and sometimes prohibitive process.

Another important reform affects all state employees. HB2159 opens all disciplinary records of state employees. This reform came about because some CPS workers who had been disciplined escaped public scrutiny because the records were not available.

HB2453 opens some court proceedings to add another layer of accountability.

“These reforms are meant to do one thing: Protect children,” Paton, R-Tucson, said. “Only by shining the light on CPS can we hope to prevent further deaths.”

“The action, and sometimes the inaction, of CPS raised a lot of concerns and the agency only made changes after their failures came to light,” Adams said. “It clearly shows the more people know about CPS the safer our children will be.”

The reforms came about after the deaths of three children in the Tucson area even after contact with CPS. The bills are supported by open government advocates, the media and child advocacy groups.

Timothy Lynch on Child Removal on National Review Online

"Protection Racket ~ They didn’t do it for the children"

By Timothy Lynch

Court proceedings are underway in Texas to sort out the controversial seizure of 465 children from the religious sect near Eldorado. A Texas appeals court ruled Thursday that Texas’s Child Protective Services (CPS) failed to justify the seizure of the very young children and teenage boys. The Court said there was simply “no evidence” of immediate danger to them. More legal challenges are expected to follow."

Click the title of this post to view entire article.

Public Input/Testimony Needed

The Joint Legislative Committee on Children and Family Services will meet for the first time this session on Wednesday, February 6, 2008.

The meeting will be held in House Hearing Room 3
3:00 to 5:30 (or upon adjournment of afternoon committees).

The agenda will be set within the next few days. If you or someone you know would like to offer input on subjects to be discussed, please contact Representative Nancy Barto at the number/email address below.

There will be time for public input and testimony. Representative Barto and Senator Karen Johnson, the Chairs of this committee are looking forward to hearing from you!

If you cannot attend in person, please take the time to send me an email with any comments, questions, or concerns that you would like brought to light and I will be sure they are read into the record. I will have my legislative email open (tgroe@azleg.gov) if you happen to watch the committee hearing via the internet at www.azleg.gov and want to email me during the meeting.

Nancy Barto's Contact Information:


Arizona House of Representatives
Vice-Chairman, Rules and Human Services Committees
Member of Health, Higher Education, and Homeland Security & Property Rights Committees

District 7 Northeast Phoenix, Carefree, Cave Creek, and Scottsdale

nbarto@azleg.gov
(602) 926-5766
1700 West Washington Avenue, Suite H
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

CPS Hearing Rescheduled ~ Now September 18th

This hearing, regarding the deaths of three children, will be open to the public. Details, such as time and location, have not been finalized. I will post information as it becomes available.

Catching Up

Last week I was in PHX working from my office at the Capitol, catching up with the Speaker, talking with Russel Pearce, getting to know my new assistant, Christina Miller, who I share with Representative Andy Tobin. Yes, that is right, share! In the Senate members each have their own assistant, but in the House, unless you are leadership you usually have to share.

I am getting ready to attend the Governor’s Rural Economic Conference next week. Ron Walker, the Mohave County Manager and Jonas Peterson, the Deputy Director of the Mohave County Community and Economic Development office are going to be there also. (I sold Jonas and his wife a house when they moved to Lake Havasu and now they attend our church.)

At the end of this month I am participating in the League of Cities & Towns annual conference where the theme is “Today’s Choices: Tomorrow’s Reality”. Kingman Mayor Les Byram is one of the conference planners so I expect him to attend and I believe Charlie Cassens will be there representing Lake Havasu City. Some of the topics being discussed at these events will include: Planning for Future Water Supplies, Planning for Growth at the Local, Regional, and State Level, Impact Fees, Workforce Housing~Inovative Ideas and Solutions, & Transportation~The Road (Rail, Air, & Transit) to the Future. I am looking forward to lively discussions on all of these vital areas and cannot wait to expand upon my knowledge!

The legislature is supposed to be holding CPS hearings at the end of the month, though I think they might be moved into September. The hearings will possibly be open to the public, which is unusual, but I do not think that they are planning on taking public testimony. I will let post the details as soon as Representative Kirk Adams, the chairman of the Government Committee, provides the information.

There is a little talk of special session whether to address the illegal immigration legislation or the unbalanced budget. I do not believe that this will come to fruition and from what I took from my time with Speaker Weier’s last week, he agrees.

Coming Soon: The Auditor General takes a look at Colorado City schools!