Arizona SB1602: kinship foster care stipend; increase

What the bill says

An act amending section 8-514.03, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to kinship foster care.

From the engrossed text, March 9, 2026:

AN ACT amending section 8-514.03, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to kinship foster care. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE) Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section [DELETED: 1.] 1. Section 8-514.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to requirements; investigation A. The department shall establish kinship foster care services for a child who has been removed from the child's home and who is in the custody of the department. The program shall promote the placement of the child with the child's relative or a person with a significant relationship with the child for kinship foster care. B. A kinship foster care parent applicant who is not a licensed foster care parent shall be at least eighteen years of age. The applicant and each member of the applicant's household who is at least eighteen years of age shall submit a full set of fingerprints to the department of child safety for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check pursuant to section 41-1750 and Public Law 92-544. The department of public safety may exchange this fingerprint data with the federal bureau of investigation. The department of child safety shall determine if the applicant is able to meet the child's health and safety needs by conducting one or more home visits and interviewing the …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Alston, Lela (D, SD-005) · primary sponsor
• Angius, Hildy (R, SD-030)
• Bravo, Flavio (D, SD-026)
• Diaz, Eva (D, SD-022)
• Epstein, Denise “Mitzi” (D, SD-012)
• Gabaldón, Rosanna (D)
• Gonzales, Sally Ann (D, SD-020)
• Kuby, Lauren (D, SD-008)
• Miranda, Catherine (D, SD-011)
• Sears, Kiana (D, SD-009)
• Janae Shamp (R, SD-029)
• Sundareshan, Priya (D, SD-018)

Latest actions

1. March 18, 2026: House read second time
2. March 17, 2026: House read first time
3. March 17, 2026: Assigned to Rules
4. March 17, 2026: Appropriations: withdrawn
5. March 17, 2026: Assigned to Appropriations
6. March 17, 2026: Health & Human Services: do pass
7. March 17, 2026: Assigned to Health & Human Services
8. March 11, 2026: Passed
9. March 11, 2026: Senate third reading passed (26 votes)
10. March 9, 2026: do pass amended

Votes

• HHS DP (March 23, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
• THIRD Passed (March 11, 2026): 26 yea, 0 nay, passed
• ATT DPA (February 24, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
• HHS DPA (February 18, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB1602?

SB1602 is a bill in the Arizona Legislature (Fifty-seventh Legislature - Second Regular Session (2026)): kinship foster care stipend; increase.

What does SB1602 do?

In its own words: An act amending section 8-514.03, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to kinship foster care.

What is the status of SB1602?

In committee as of March 17, 2026. Latest action: House read second time (March 18, 2026).

Who sponsored SB1602?

Alston, Lela (D, SD-005), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB1602?

On the Arizona Legislature website: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/85234/?SessionId=130