Official Summary Text
SB1125 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet
Assigned to
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COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1125
DCS;
memorandum of understanding; tribes
Purpose
Requires the
Department of Child Safety (DCS) to make efforts on an annual basis to enter
into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with each Indian Tribe in Arizona that
does not have an MOU and outlines the required contents of an MOU.
Background
The primary
purpose of DCS is to protect children by : 1) investigating reports of abuse
and neglect; 2) assessing, promoting and supporting the safety of a child in a
safe and stable family or other appropriate placement in response to
allegations of abuse or neglect; 3) working cooperatively with law enforcement
regarding reports that include criminal conduct allegations; and 4) without
compromising child safety, coordinating services to achieve and maintain permanency
on behalf of the child, strengthening the family and provide prevention,
intervention and treatment services (
A.R.S.
� 8-451
).
The federal
Indian Child Welfare Act allows states and tribes to craft agreements for the
care and custody of Indian children, which may provide for the orderly transfer
of jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis and for concurrent jurisdiction between
states and tribes. DCS currently has an MOU in place with the Pascua Yaqui
Tribe and memoranda of agreement with the Navajo Nation, Salt River
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and White Mountain Apache Tribe (
Arizona
ICWA Guide 2024
).
There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1.
Requires DCS to make annual efforts to enter into an MOU with each
Indian Tribe in Arizona that does not have a current MOU with DCS.
2.
Requires
the MOU to include provisions requiring DCS to share best practices, policies,
training materials and operational standards relating to the administration of
DCS, including:
a)
intake;
b)
investigations;
c)
placement of children;
d)
case management; and
e)
service
coordination.
3.
Requires the MOU to direct DCS to identify a designated DCS tribal
liaison who is assigned to the specific tribe and who will coordinate tribal communications,
provide technical assistance and support collaboration with the tribe on child
welfare matters.
4.
Requires
the MOU to require DCS to establish a process that allows the tribe to access
regulatory actions, licensing actions, investigations and enforcement measures
taken by DCS against any DCS-licensed group home in which a child who is a
member of the tribe is placed, including access to:
a)
corrective action plans;
b)
licensing sanctions or suspensions;
c)
substantiated health and safety violations; and
d)
any
other regulatory actions related to child welfare, safety or care standards.
5.
Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 16, 2026
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Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
Chapter 0010 - 572R - S Ver of SB1125
Senate Engrossed
DCS; memorandum of
understanding; tribes
State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
CHAPTER 10
SENATE BILL 1125
AN
ACT
amending title 8, chapter 4, article 1,
arizona revised statutes, by adding section 8-469.03; relating to the
department of child safety.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 8, chapter 4, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 8-469.03, to read:
START_STATUTE
8-469.03.
Indian tribes; memorandum of understanding
The department shall make efforts on an annual
basis to enter into a memorandum of understanding with each indian tribe
located in this state that does not have a current memorandum of understanding
with the department.� the memorandum of understanding must:
1. Require tHE department to share
best practices, policies, training materials and operational standards relating
to the administration of the department, including ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
(
a
) InTAKE.
(
b
) iNVESTIGATIONS.
(
c
) pLACEMENT
OF CHILDREN.
(
d
) CASE
MANAGEMENT.
(
e
) SERVICE
COORDINATION.
2. iDENTIFy A DESIGNATED DEPARTMENT
TRIBAL LIAISON WHO IS ASSIGNED TO THE SPECIFIC TRIBE THAT IS A PARTY TO THE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND WHO WILL COORDINATE COMMUNICATION WITH THE
TRIBE, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE TRIBE AND SUPPORT COLLABORATION WITH
THE TRIBE ON CHILD WELFARE MATTERS.
3. Establish a PROCESS THAT ALLOWS
THE TRIBE THAT IS A PARTY TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING to ACCESS
REGULATORY ACTIONS, LICENSING ACTIONS, INVESTIGATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT MEASURES
TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT AGAINST ANY DEPARTMENT-LICENSED GROUP HOME IN
WHICH A CHILD WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE TRIBE IS PLACED.� tHE TRIBE SHALL HAVE
ACCESS TO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
(
a
) cORRECTIVE
ACTION PLANS.
(
b
) lICENSING
SANCTIONS OR SUSPENSIONS.
(
c
) sUBSTANTIATED
HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS.
(
d
) aNY OTHER
REGULATORY ACTIONS RELATED TO CHILD WELFARE, SAFETY OR CARE STANDARDS.
END_STATUTE
APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 2, 2026.
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 2, 2026.