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SB1320 - 572R - I Ver
REFERENCE TITLE:
children; incarcerated parents task force
State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
SB 1320
Introduced by
Senators
Ortiz: Kuby;� Representatives Aguilar, Liguori
AN
ACT
Establishing the Children of incarcerated
parents task force.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1.
Children of
incarcerated parents task force; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal
A. The children of
incarcerated parents task force is established consisting of:
1. The following members
who are appointed by the governor.
(
a
) Two
members who are from an organization that advocates for adolescents, youth or
incarcerated parents in this state.
(
b
) Two
members who are the adult children of a parent who has been incarcerated.
(
c
) Two
members who are parents and who were formerly incarcerated.
(
d
) One
member who is a researcher and who has studied issues related to the impact of
incarceration on youth.
(
e
) One
member who is from an organization in this state that facilitates visitation
between incarcerated parents and their children.
(
f
) One
county attorney who is from a county with a population of less than five
hundred thousand persons or the county attorney's designee.
(
g
) One
county attorney who is from a county with a population of five hundred thousand
persons or more or the county attorney's designee.
(
h
) One
member of the Arizona criminal justice commission who represents a county with
a population of five hundred thousand persons or more or the member's designee.
(
i
) One
member of the Arizona criminal justice commission who represents a county with
a population of less than five hundred thousand persons or the member's
designee.
(
j
) One
member who is a chief probation officer or the chief probation officer's
designee.
2. The director of the
department of economic security or the director's designee.
3. The director of the
state department of corrections or the director's designee.
4. The director of the
department of juvenile corrections or the director's designee.
5. The director of the
governor's office of youth, faith and family or the director's designee.
6. The director of the
Arizona peace officer standards and training board or the director's designee.
7. The director of the
administrative office of the courts or the director's designee.
8. The attorney general or
the attorney general's designee.
9. The presiding judge of
the juvenile court in Maricopa county or the presiding judge's designee.
10. One member of the
senate who is appointed by the president of the senate.
11. One member of the house
of representatives who is appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives.
12. One member of the
senate who is appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
13. One member of the house
of representatives who is appointed by the minority leader of the house of
representatives.
B. Members of the task
force shall be appointed not later than six months after the effective date of
this section.
C. Task force members are
not eligible to receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses under title
38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.
D. At the first meeting of
the task force, the members shall elect a chairperson.
E. The task force shall
meet at least quarterly or at the call of the chairperson.
F. The task force shall:
1. Focus on providing every
child who has an incarcerated parent in this state with all of the following
rights:
(
a
) To
be kept safe and informed at the time of the parent's arrest.
(
b
) To
be heard when decisions are made about the child.
(
c
) To
be considered when decisions are made about the child's parent.
(
d
) To
be well cared for in the parent's absence.
(
e
) To
speak with, see and touch the parent.
(
f
) To
be supported as the child faces the parent's incarceration.
(
g
) To
not be judged, blamed or labeled because the child's parent is incarcerated.
(
h
) To
have a lifelong relationship with the parent.
2. Identify service gaps in
behavioral health support and coordinate with faith-based, educational
and community organizations in this state to ensure accessible,
trauma-informed, preventive interventions for the children of incarcerated
parents.
3. Track key indicators,
including all of the following:
(
a
) The
number of children of incarcerated parents who are reached by the task force.
(
b
) The
number of faith-based community partnerships that are established.
(
c
) Any
reports on parental contact and reintegration support.
4. Partner with local
congregations, faith leaders and volunteers to raise awareness, facilitate peer
support groups and deliver stress management and self-awareness programs for
the children of incarcerated parents and their caregivers.
5. On or before June 30,
2028, submit a report regarding the task force's findings and recommendations
to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of
representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.
G. This section is repealed
from and after June 30, 2028.