The proposed bill would amend the definition of "child only case" in Arizona's welfare statutes to include cases where an eligible dependent child is living with a nonparent relative who is responsible for the child's basic needs and is not receiving Cash Assistance. This expands the current definition, which only includes children in the legal custody of the Department of Child Safety or similar entities placed in foster care. The bill also specifies that the benefit amount for these child only cases will be based on available funds as determined by the Department of Economic Security (DES).

Additionally, the bill makes conforming changes to the eligibility criteria for Cash Assistance, removing the stipulation that the family must include a nonparent relative head of household who is not applying for or receiving assistance. It clarifies that only the income of the dependent child will be considered for eligibility in child only cases, thereby streamlining the process for families seeking assistance. Overall, these updates aim to broaden access to Cash Assistance for children living with nonparent relatives.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 46-101, 46-292, 104-193, 8-872
Senate Engrossed Version: 46-101, 46-292, 104-193, 8-872