The bill HB2559 amends Arizona Revised Statutes by adding section 8-468, which relates to child welfare. It requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to determine if children in their care are eligible for federal benefits from the Social Security Administration or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs within 60 days of entering DCS care. If eligible, DCS must apply for these benefits on behalf of the child.

The bill also outlines the responsibilities of DCS if it becomes the representative payee for a child's federal benefits. DCS cannot use these benefits to reimburse itself or the state for the child's care costs but may use them for the child's unmet needs. DCS must establish an appropriate account for the child's benefits, provide annual accounting to the child, their attorney, and their parents or guardians, and periodically review if another suitable representative payee is available. Upon termination of DCS's responsibility, any remaining funds must be released to the child if they are of age or emancipated, or to the person responsible for the child if they are a minor and not emancipated. The bill removes previous provisions that allowed DCS to use a child's federal benefits to defray care costs and required separate accounting for each child's benefits.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-468
House Engrossed Version: 8-453, 8-468, 8-451, 8-824, 8-845, 8-548, 8-806, 8-521, 8-521.01, 95-608, 35-146, 35-147, 41-192, 35-173
Chaptered Version: 8-453, 8-468, 8-451, 8-824, 8-845, 8-548, 8-806, 8-521, 8-521.01, 95-608, 35-146, 35-147, 41-192, 35-173