The Department of Economic Security is proposing legislation to broaden the scope of the oversight of boot camp and rigorous wilderness programs that provide treatment and training for delinquent children.

The proposed legislation would require any individual or entity placing a child in a paramilitary, boot camp or rigorous wilderness program within the State of Arizona, including agencies outside the State of Arizona to ensure that:

The placing authority develop its written service case plan for each child prior to placement that also clearly defines its case management responsibilities for that child;

Representative of a placing entity shall face to face contact, or shall contract for such contact, with each child at the program site at least monthly while that child is in placement;

Every child undergoes, prior to placement, a complete physical examination by a physician who shall certify that child fit to participate in such programs; and

Every child undergoes, prior to placement, a complete psychological evaluation by a licensed psychologist who shall certify that child is emotionally able to participate in such programs.

The proposed legislation would require any paramilitary, boot camp or rigorous wilderness program within the State of Arizona to ensure that:

Prior to entering their program that every child referred from outside of the State of Arizona has undergone an assessment by an "Independent Placement Review Panel" of professionals in his home state that has reviewed and concurs with the placing authorities decision to place that child out of state;

Since many of these children placed in these programs are adjusted delinquent the legislation would propose that:

The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections be granted the authority, as part of the licensing and re-licensing process, to determine whether the training and treatment modalities meet currently accepted program practices for delinquent youth.

In addition, the legislation would request that the legislature would:

Grant the department the authority to impose substantial civil monetary penalties for noncompliance or violations of established rules;

Establish with the current Ombudsman's Offce for the State of Arizona a Child Welfare Ombudsman available for children and or families of children in such programs;

Establish with statute a statement of "Personal Rights of Children in Residential Care" that would outline basic rights of children in such programs.

The Department intends to have the above proposed legislation introduced in the next regular session of the Arizona State Legislature. d>