Gov. Jan Brewer is continuing to study the budget sent to her this week by Arizona lawmakers. Her spokesman, Andrew Wilder, said it looks promising, but there are no guarantees she will sign it in its current form. Wilder said there are good signs.
And, Wilder said there is a good chance lawmakers will be returning to the Capitol later this year to work on funding the new child welfare agency.
“It appears to be a promising budget proposal but that’s why she needs time to go line by line and make sure that everything conforms to her priorities, the state’s priorities and stays within the confines of the limited resources that we have in this state," Wilder said.
No matter what, Wilder said, it is likely the governor will call lawmakers into a special session on funding for her new child welfare agency.
“The governor has indicated that it’s likely the legislature will be called into a special session to deal with the putting together (of) a new child welfare and child protection agency, something to replace the current CPS Department," Wilder said.
Wilder said the special session would likely be called after a working group unveils its plan to overhaul CPS on May 1. Brewer has until Monday to act on the state spending plan.