SB 1246 Arizona Senate · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

child neglect; exception; financial resources

SB 1246 amends Arizona's definition of "child neglect" in Section 8-201 of the Revised Statutes by adding a specific exception related to financial resources. The bill clarifies that a child's neglect does not include situations where a parent or guardian fails to provide support due to documented financial hardship, provided they are actively seeking assistance. This change affects how child welfare cases involving economic hardship are evaluated under Arizona law. The bill focuses solely on refining definitions for legal clarity and does not create new requirements, funding changes, or direct impacts on families. (Note: The bill's text provided contains no substantive policy changes beyond this definitional amendment.)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Last action Mar 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Senate Engrossed Version · 6 edits · Feb 24, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Arizona's child neglect and abuse definitions to clarify protections for children receiving Christian Science treatment and to add a financial resources exception for parents unable to provide basic needs due to poverty. The changes aim to prevent families from being penalized for financial hardship while maintaining protections against actual neglect.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of protections by adding new exemptions to child neglect and abuse definitions, specifically for Christian Science treatment and financial hardship situations.

DEFINITION

Added new Section 8-201.01 with prohibitions that prevent children from being classified as abused, neglected, or dependent solely because they are receiving Christian Science treatment.

Added new Section 8-201.01 provisions that prevent parents from being charged with abuse, neglect, or abandonment solely for seeking inpatient treatment or out-of-home placement when a child's behavioral health needs pose a risk to family safety.

Added new Section 8-201.01 provisions that prevent parents from being charged with abuse or neglect solely for bringing a child into their home when the child's behavioral health needs pose a risk to family safety.

Added new Section 8-201.01 provisions that exempt parents from neglect charges when they are unable to provide supervision, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care solely due to lack of financial resources.

Reorganized and expanded the definitions section of ARS 8-201 to include clearer definitions for dependent children, serious emotional injury, serious physical injury, and other related terms.

Updated the definition of neglect to include specific provisions about prenatal drug exposure and fetal alcohol syndrome diagnoses.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

30–0

Passed

Total votes 30

Feb 24, 2025

D Democratic13

13 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican17

17 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors