SB 1500: permanency placement; grandparent; priority - Arizona

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version · 6 edits · Jun 27, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was fundamentally rewritten to shift from a child welfare focus to a compensation program for innocent people wrongly convicted of crimes. The new version creates a legal pathway for these individuals to sue the state for money and services, while also ordering the expungement of their criminal records. It establishes a dedicated state fund to pay these claims and sets specific deadlines for when the law takes effect and when it will be repealed.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed entirely from protecting children in foster care to providing redress for innocent criminal defendants. The subject matter was completely altered from 'permanency placement' to 'erroneous convictions'.

SCOPE

All provisions regarding child permanency hearings, termination of parental rights, and grandparent placement priorities were deleted.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility criteria were added for individuals who were convicted of a felony, subsequently incarcerated, and can prove they did not commit the crime, did not commit perjury, and either received a pardon based on innocence or had their conviction reversed.

FISCAL

A new 'Erroneous Convictions Fund' was established in Title 41 to finance compensation awards, mental health treatment, and educational reimbursement for claimants.

REQUIREMENT

The bill mandates that courts order the expungement of arrest and conviction records and the destruction of biological samples (like DNA) for qualifying claimants.

TIMELINE

The law is set to become effective on December 31, 2025, and will automatically be repealed on June 30, 2027, creating a temporary pilot program.

DEFINITION

The legal title and reference topics were changed from child placement issues to compensation for erroneous convictions.

HOUSE - Amended by APPROP - passed → Chaptered Version · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill was finalized into law after passing the House and Senate. The final version adds a new pilot program for compensating individuals wrongfully convicted of felonies, establishes a fund to pay these claims, and includes provisions for expunging records and providing mental health services to victims of the erroneous convictions.

Scope change

The bill remains focused on erroneous convictions but adds new provisions for victim compensation services and clarifies the process for determining liability when city or county employees may have caused the wrongful conviction.

FISCAL

Establishes a new 'Erroneous Convictions Fund' in Title 41 to finance compensation awards and services.

Increases potential additional compensation from an unspecified amount to up to $500,000 and adds specific compensation for death row time and sex offender registration costs.

ELIGIBILITY

Adds a requirement that claimants must not be concurrently serving another sentence for a different offense to receive compensation for that time period.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the court to find whether city or county employees committed harmful error or misconduct that caused the wrongful conviction, with the responsible entity reimbursing the state fund.

Provides mental health treatment and educational services to both claimants and victims of crime affected by the erroneous conviction.

ENFORCEMENT

Mandates expungement of convictions, sealing of records, destruction of DNA samples, and restoration of civil rights including firearm rights.

TIMELINE

Sets the effective date as December 31, 2025, with automatic repeal scheduled for June 30, 2027, making this a two-year pilot program.

Senate Engrossed Version → HOUSE - Amended by APPROP - passed · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to replace child permanency placement rules with a new statute providing compensation to individuals who were wrongfully convicted of felonies and incarcerated. This represents a major scope change from child welfare law to criminal justice exoneration and compensation.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted entirely from child welfare permanency hearings to establishing a compensation program for individuals with erroneous convictions.

SCOPE

All text related to child permanency hearings, termination of parental rights, and guardianship proceedings was removed.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility criteria for compensation: claimants must have been convicted of a felony, incarcerated, did not commit the crime, did not commit perjury or fabricate evidence, and either received an innocence-based pardon or had their conviction reversed/vacated.

TIMELINE

Added a two-year statute of limitations for filing claims, starting from when the conviction is overturned, charges dismissed, claimant found not guilty, or a no contest plea is entered.

FISCAL

Establishes compensation equal to 200% of the state median household income for each year incarcerated, with provisions for additional compensation based on expenses like reintegration services, healthcare, fines, and other damages.

REQUIREMENT

Requires claims to be titled 'In the Matter of the Erroneous Conviction,' served on the Attorney General, filed in the county of conviction or Maricopa County, and includes specific procedures for responses and hearings.

DEFINITION

Added specific language clarifying that false confessions or guilty pleas do not constitute committing perjury or fabricating evidence.

House Engrossed Version → Senate Engrossed Version · 5 edits · Jun 27, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was converted from a House version focused on erroneous convictions compensation to a Senate version focused on child permanency placement and grandparent priority. The substantive content regarding compensation for wrongfully convicted individuals was completely removed and replaced with provisions establishing timelines for permanency hearings, requirements for prioritizing grandparents in child placements, and procedures for terminating parental rights or establishing permanent guardianship.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted entirely from addressing compensation for erroneously convicted individuals to governing child welfare permanency hearings and placement priorities.

SCOPE

All provisions related to erroneous convictions compensation, including eligibility criteria, compensation amounts, and expungement procedures, were removed.

The bill's title and subject matter were changed from erroneous convictions to child permanency placement.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements for permanency hearings were added, including specific timelines for holding hearings based on child age and circumstances.

Provisions were added to prioritize permanent placement of children with grandparents and other extended family members.

New procedures were established for courts to order termination of parental rights or permanent guardianship when appropriate.

permanency placement; grandparent; priority

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors