HB2951

THE CONTEXT: The Arizona Legislature adopts a budget for each fiscal year (FY) that contains general appropriations. Article IV, Section 20, Part 2 of the Constitution of Arizona requires the General Appropriations Act (feed bill) to contain only appropriations for the different state departments, state institutions, public schools and interest on public debt.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would establish the Child and Family Representation Program (Program) in the Administrative Office of the Courts, to ensure uniform and high-quality representation and collaboration with the superior courts, judges and attorneys, instruct the Supreme Court to employ the personnel needed to administer the Program, and outlines Program requirements, including assessing training availability, recommending training and caseload standards, auditing counsel performance, filing bar complaints, fostering partnerships, recommending counsel compensation, seeking funding and developing outcome metrics.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to create an operative state process for criminal justice instead of leaving implementation undefined. It would establish the Child and Family Representation Program (Program) in the Administrative Office of the Courts, to ensure uniform and high-quality representation and collaboration with the superior courts, judges and attorneys, and would also instruct the Supreme Court to employ the personnel needed to administer the Program, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.