kinship foster care stipend; increase

SB 1490 increases monthly stipends for kinship foster parents in Arizona, directly affecting relatives or individuals with significant relationships caring for children removed from their homes. The bill mandates tiered stipend amounts: $400 per child monthly from 2025-2026, $500 from 2026-2027, and $600 starting in 2027. These payments supplement existing foster care benefits and are intended to support families providing kinship care without requiring full foster care licensing. The bill amends Arizona Revised Statutes Section 8-514.03 to establish these specific financial thresholds.