John Gillette — Asked where documentation or receipts would show DCS paying hospitals.
John Gillette — Addressed in the exchange about payment records and subpoenas.
John Gillette — Acknowledged for research and information provided.
John Gillette — His research is acknowledged while the speaker says they still need a paper trail.
John Gillette — Referenced again in the discussion about subpoenas and obtaining information.
John Gillette — Representative Gillette is credited with doing background checking, requesting actual numbers and a paper trail, and generally contributing work that helped drive concern and discussion.
Rachel Keshel — Rachel Keshel was called during roll call and then introduced herself, stating that she is Representative Rachel Keshel from Legislative District 17.
Rachel Keshel — Representative Rachel Keshel asked what was causing the documentation problems and whether the issue was due to resources or training. The exchange then continued with a follow-up asking if she had anything else, and she raised a related concern about receiving presentation copies the same day bills or the agenda are posted so members have time to review materials and ask questions. The response indicated that the request for presentation copies was being addressed.
Rachel Keshel — Representative Keshel explains her vote in favor of the motion, citing her experience living in Sierra Vista.
Rachel Keshel — Representative Keshel was asked to explain the bill and said it was prompted by parents’ concerns that some health care facilities, including Phoenix Children’s, may be incentivized by DCS to overreport abuse. She clarified that hospitals should report abuse when there is a legitimate concern and not because of incentives, and the exchange concluded with thanks for bringing the bill forward.
Rachel Keshel — She asks whether lines 9 and 10 should refer to DCS instead of 'Department of Child Abuse or Negligence.'
Rachel Keshel — She explains her vote, saying the bill aligns procurement rules with ADOA and proper bidding processes.
Aaron Márquez — Aaron Márquez was called during roll call and answered present, then introduced himself as the representative for District 5 and described its boundaries. In the same exchange, others made brief personal asides noting that they had recently moved into his district and bought a house there.
Aaron Márquez — Aaron Márquez questioned the witness about the sample selection used in the analysis, asking whether roughly 50,000 DCS cases go through the system each year, how the sample size compares to the total caseload, and whether the sample is statistically significant.
Aaron Márquez — Aaron Márquez explained his vote and thanked the chair for introducing the legislation, saying that as someone who trained at Fort Huachuca and is from Arizona, he views the measure as connected to one of the state's proudest contributions to American military history and strongly supports it.
Aaron Márquez — Aaron Márquez asks the bill sponsor whether they met with DCS and whether DCS provided any data showing how often the issue occurs. The discussion then references Márquez’s question as a source of confusion, and later Márquez is recorded voting nay.
Stephanie Hamilton — Representative Stephanie Stahl Hamilton was first called during roll call and answered present, then introduced herself and stated that she represents Legislative District 21, covering 2,100 square miles of southern Arizona across parts of Pima, Cochise, and Naco counties.
Stephanie Hamilton — Stephanie Hamilton thanked those present and highlighted the importance of having children and young people in the room to witness the discussion, learn history, and carry forward the legacy being discussed.
Betty Villegas — Called during roll call and answered present.
Betty Villegas — Betty Villegas asked about the department’s non-criminal hotline workload and capacity, including how many non-criminal reports are received, how many of those were reviewed, and what staffing or investigative resources are available to handle them.
Betty Villegas — Recognized to speak and stated support for the bill.
Betty Villegas — Asked how often the reimbursement practice actually happens.
Betty Villegas — Asked how often this situation actually happens.
Betty Villegas — Representative Villegas is identified in the follow-up discussion about the report date.
Betty Villegas — Referenced in the ongoing question about the report date and committee materials.
Betty Villegas — Representative Villegas is addressed in the question about implementation timing.
Betty Villegas — She says she cannot vote aye without reviewing the contract and understanding the payments.
Lisa Fink — Lisa Fink is identified during roll call and answers 'here,' then is introduced by name as Representative Lisa Fink as the meeting continues its opening member identification.
Lisa Fink — Lisa Fink questioned the presenter about the audit report, asking for the presenter’s name, whether the office conducts these audits regularly, whether the department has improved across several audits, and whether any other agency has a noncompliance rate as high as 98%. The presenter responded that she was not aware of another agency with that level of noncompliance.
Lisa Fink — Speaker jokes with the Vice Chair about becoming chair next year.
Lisa Fink — As Vice Chair, she is addressed and then speaks in support of the bill.
Lisa Fink — Addressed in opening remarks by the witness.
Lisa Fink — Addressed by the witness and in the exchange about questions.
Lisa Fink — The speaker addressed Vice Chair Fink/Madam Chair throughout a continuous exchange, first apologizing for not recalling receipt of the information and noting it should be in her inbox, then asking about the date the report or policy was implemented, and finally following up with additional clarification about payment documentation. Overall, the discussion centered on receiving and verifying related materials and implementation details.
Lisa Fink — Addressed in the motion to move the bill.
Walt Blackman — Walt Blackman first appears during roll call, then introduces himself as Representative Blackman of Legislative District 7 and notes his prior service chairing the Judiciary Committee before stating he is now chairing this committee. He then lays out his expectations for the meeting: respect is essential regardless of ideology, members will be treated with respect if they return it, the chair and committee must be respected, safety is a major concern in what he describes as a volatile year, and disruptive behavior will result in removal from the meeting.
Walt Blackman — Walt Blackman delivers the opening statement for the hearing, welcoming attendees and emphasizing that the committee’s focus is on the serious responsibility of the Department of Child Safety to protect children in state custody. He stresses that the hearing is not about blaming individuals or conducting a "witch hunt," but about examining systemic problems that have persisted for years despite the dedication of DCS workers. He explains the Government Oversight Committee’s constitutional and statutory duty to oversee DCS and other agencies, notes the public’s expectation that children removed from homes are protected, and identifies ongoing concerns such as workforce strain, placement challenges, delayed investigations, data and coordination issues, and problems involving contracted group homes. Blackman also clarifies that this is a formal legislative oversight hearing with subpoena power, including over state employees and contracted personnel, and that sworn testimony is intended to promote accuracy, transparency, and accountability. He concludes by stating that the committee will assess where the system is under strain, what changes are needed to better protect children, and that any evidence of misconduct, neglect, or legal violations will be handled through established processes.
Walt Blackman — Thanked by the speaker for his role in the hearing.
Walt Blackman — Likely intended to refer to Chair Walt Blackman; said to be willing to send subpoenas if needed.
Walt Blackman — The chair calls for a short recess and then returns from recess.
Walt Blackman — The chair responds and indicates the bill has already been explained.
Walt Blackman — As Chair, he is managing discussion and moving toward a vote on the bill.
Walt Blackman — He moves the committee toward a vote and indicates the discussion can resume afterward.
Walt Blackman — He states the motion and directs the roll call.
Walt Blackman — As Chair, he apologizes to attendees and says he wants to clarify earlier remarks so the committee can proceed.
Walt Blackman — He clarifies that the committee should separate court proceedings from legislative business and focus on the bills' content and impact.
Walt Blackman — He says the committee will hold a special hearing outside of government with the speaker's permission and emphasizes protecting children.
Walt Blackman — He votes aye and announces the vote count and due pass recommendation for HB 2018.
Walt Blackman — As chair, he adjourns the committee without objection.
Jessica Halkless — Introduced herself as being with the Arizona Auditor General and began presenting the special audit on the Department of Child Safety's investigations of non-criminal child abuse and neglect reports.