DCS Under Scrutiny in Arizona Capitol Hearing

Arizona Lawmakers to Hold Special Hearing on DCS Oversight and Child Safety Reforms

Arizona lawmakers are set to take a closer look at the state’s child welfare system this week, as Representative Walt Blackman and Representative Lisa Fink convene a special hearing focused on oversight of the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and a slate of proposed reform bills aimed at strengthening accountability and improving outcomes for vulnerable children.

The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the State Capitol in Phoenix, will be led by Blackman in his role as Chairman of the Arizona House Committee on Government, with Fink serving as Vice Chairman. Lawmakers say the goal is to examine how DCS operates, where breakdowns may be occurring, and what legislative changes are needed to ensure children in state custody are protected and placed in stable environments.

Putting Accountability Front and Center

Chairman Blackman emphasized that the child safety system exists for a single purpose: to protect children. When the state intervenes and takes custody, he said, there can be no tolerance for preventable failures.

“This hearing is about accountability and enforceable change,” Blackman stated. “We will put facts on the record, press for answers, and advance reforms that put child safety ahead of bureaucracy.”

Vice Chairman Fink echoed that message, stressing that families and taxpayers deserve a child welfare agency that acts with urgency and adheres to the law consistently. She noted that the committee intends to scrutinize how DCS responds to reports of abuse and neglect, how placement decisions are made, and why certain failures appear to repeat.

Lawmakers will hear testimony and engage in discussion on issues including kinship placement, standards for group and congregate care settings, DCS response protocols to credible abuse reports, and the structure of independent oversight.

Strengthening Kinship and Family Protections

One of the key reform measures before the committee is HB 2035, sponsored by Fink. The bill seeks to strengthen kinship placement by expanding who may qualify as a kin caregiver, requiring timely identification and notification of relatives and significant connections, and mandating greater transparency when a kinship placement is denied.

Kinship placements — where children are placed with relatives or close family friends — are often viewed as more stable and less disruptive than other placement options. Lawmakers say improving how these placements are identified and evaluated could enhance continuity and emotional well-being for children in care.

Another Fink-sponsored measure, HB 2041, clarifies that a parent’s inability to provide basic necessities solely due to a lack of financial resources should not be treated as neglect. Supporters say the bill reinforces the distinction between poverty and abuse, ensuring that economic hardship alone does not trigger child removal.

Raising Standards in Congregate Care

Representative Blackman is sponsoring HB 2611, which would establish stronger safety requirements for congregate care settings. The bill includes enhanced employee screening and training standards, as well as additional protections focused on youth safety and continuity of care.

Congregate care facilities serve children who cannot immediately be placed in family settings. Lawmakers say clear, enforceable standards are necessary to safeguard youth and reduce risks within these environments.

Blackman is also sponsoring HB 2860, which would create an independent oversight committee tasked with reviewing DCS performance and critical incidents. The proposal includes reporting requirements and dedicated funding to support oversight operations. Proponents argue that independent review is essential to maintaining transparency and restoring public trust.

Ensuring Response to Credible Abuse Reports

HB 4004, sponsored by Representative Keshel, requires DCS to respond to credible abuse or neglect reports and prohibits screening out cases when an alleged abusive parent has parenting time or legal decision-making authority. The measure is designed to ensure that serious allegations are not dismissed prematurely.

Additionally, HB 4049, sponsored by Fink, would add DCS to the list of agencies exempt from restrictions on employing legal counsel outside the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, potentially providing the agency with additional legal flexibility.

Hearing Details

The special hearing will begin at 1:00 p.m., or upon recess or adjournment of the House Floor, in House Hearing Room 5 at the State Capitol in Phoenix. Members of the public and media may attend in person or watch the proceedings live through the Arizona Legislature’s video portal.

Lawmakers say the hearing represents a critical step toward evaluating how Arizona’s child safety system functions — and whether it is meeting its fundamental obligation to protect children placed in its care.