Bill > SB1320

This bill establishes the Children of Incarcerated Parents Task Force, a diverse group comprised of individuals appointed by the governor, including advocates for adolescents and incarcerated parents, adult children of incarcerated parents, formerly incarcerated parents, researchers, representatives from organizations facilitating parent-child visitation, county attorneys, members of the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, a chief probation officer, and designees from various state departments and offices such as the Department of Economic Security, Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Corrections, Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family, Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Attorney General, along with legislative members from both the Senate and House of Representatives. The task force is charged with ensuring that children with incarcerated parents in Arizona have specific rights, including being kept safe and informed during a parent's arrest, being heard and considered in decisions affecting them and their parents, receiving proper care in their parent's absence, maintaining contact with their parent, being supported through the challenges of incarceration, not being stigmatized due to their parent's situation, and having the opportunity for a lifelong relationship with their parent. Additionally, the task force will identify gaps in behavioral health support, collaborate with community and faith-based organizations to provide trauma-informed interventions, track key indicators like the number of children reached and partnerships formed, and work with local groups to offer support programs for children and their caregivers, with a mandate to report its findings and recommendations to the governor and legislative leaders by June 30, 2028, after which this section will be repealed.

Justice

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84858