DCS caseworkers; investigations; child photographs

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

DCS caseworkers; investigations; child photographs

SB1175 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet Assigned to HHS�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� FOR COMMITTEE ARIZONA STATE SENATE Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session FACT SHEET FOR S.B.

What This Bill Does

• SB1175 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet Assigned to HHS�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� FOR COMMITTEE ARIZONA STATE SENATE Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session FACT SHEET FOR S.B.
• 1175 DCS caseworkers; investigations; child photographs Purpose Effective January 1, 2027, requires a Department of Child Safety (DCS) caseworker to photograph a child who is the subject of an investigation of alleged abuse or neglect each time the caseworker interacts with the child and to review all photographs of the child to consider any decline in the child's appearance or health.
• Background DCS was established to protect the children of Arizona 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, strengthen the family and provide prevention, intervention and treatment services ( A.R.S.
• � 8-451 ).

Limits and Unknowns

• This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Official Summary Text

SB1175 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
HHS�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� FOR
COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1175

DCS caseworkers;
investigations; child photographs

Purpose

Effective
January 1, 2027, requires a Department of Child Safety (DCS) caseworker to
photograph a child who is the subject of an investigation of alleged abuse or
neglect each time the caseworker interacts with the child and to review all
photographs of the child to consider any decline in the child's appearance or
health.

Background

DCS was
established to protect the children of Arizona 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, strengthen the family and provide
prevention, intervention and treatment services (
A.R.S.
� 8-451
).
The DCS Program Policy Manual requires
photographs to be taken of any child who presents with visible injuries or
indicators of abuse or neglect. It is preferred that the child's photograph be
taken by law enforcement, a child advocacy center or a medical professional,
though a caseworker may take the photographs if none of those personnel are
available. Photographs of the child can be taken without permission of the
parent, guardian or custodian (
DCS
).

There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

Requires a DCS caseworker to photograph a child and maintain the
photograph in the child's case file each time the caseworker interacts with the
child, if the child is the subject of an investigation for an allegation of
abuse or neglect.

2.

Requires the DCS caseworker to review all photographs of the child and
consider any decline in the child's appearance or health.

3.

Becomes effective on January 1, 2027.

Prepared by Senate Research

January 23, 2026

MM/MS/hk

Current Bill Text

SB1175 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

DCS caseworkers;
investigations; child photographs

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1175

AN
ACT

amending title 8, chapter 4, article 4, arizona
revised statutes, by adding section 8-530.10; relating to child welfare.

(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 4,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 8-530.10, to read:

START_STATUTE
8-530.10.

DCS caseworkers; investigations; child photographs; safety plan

Each time a department caseworker has contact or
interacts with a CHILD who is the subject of a department investigation for an
allegation of abuse or neglect, the caseworker shall photograph the child and
maintain the photograph in the child's case file. when making a
safety plan for a child, the caseworker shall review all PHOTOGRAPHS of the
child and consider any decline in the child's appearance or health.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.
Effective date

Section 8-530.10, Arizona
Revised Statutes, as added by this act, is effective from and after December
31, 2026.