This bill proposes several updates to the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding welfare, specifically in the definitions and eligibility criteria for cash assistance programs. It introduces new definitions for "child only case," clarifying that it includes cases where the child is in the legal custody of the Department of Child Safety or a tribal court and placed with an unrelated adult or nonparent relative not receiving cash assistance. Additionally, it specifies that the income of the dependent child will be the only income considered for eligibility in these cases, and the benefit amount will be determined based on available funds.

The bill also modifies existing provisions related to good cause claims, cash assistance increases due to the birth of children, and income disregards for employed individuals. It changes the timeframe for submitting evidence for good cause claims from twenty days after the claim is provided to twenty days after the date of the claim itself. Furthermore, it updates the language regarding the earned income disregard, specifying amounts for dependent care expenses and clarifying that the total gross countable income for families requesting cash assistance should not exceed 130% of the federal poverty guidelines.

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