The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend the current definition of child neglect in Arizona law. Under the existing statute, a parent, guardian, or custodian can be deemed neglectful if they are unable or unwilling to provide necessary care for a child, which poses a substantial risk to the child's health or welfare. The bill introduces specific exceptions to this definition, stating that a lack of financial resources should not be considered neglect. This means that if a parent, guardian, or custodian cannot provide supervision, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care solely due to financial constraints, they would not be classified as neglectful.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that a risk of serious harm must be present for a situation to be classified as neglect. This change aims to protect parents who are financially struggling from being penalized for their inability to provide for their children, thereby refining the legal understanding of neglect in relation to financial circumstances. The bill also includes technical changes to the language of the statute to ensure clarity and precision in its application.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-201