A bipartisan state Senate panel unanimously supports Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs' pick to lead the Department of Child Safety. On Thursday, lawmakers recommended confirming Kathryn Ptak as director.
Senators did refer to the agency’s past issues, including a negative report from the state Auditor General’s Office, which said DCS has failed to fully implement 42 out of 58 recommendations from six audits.
Committee Chair Sen. Jake Hoffman told Ptak he wants stability from the agency:
“When there are concerns, as with the guardian system, as with the production of documents, as with the due process afforded to families who are fighting to rebuild that family, I don’t think that we have the ability to take those lightly,” he said.
Before the Senate takes a final vote on her confirmation, Hoffman asked Ptak to craft a statement explaining how she’ll ensure that due process and parental rights will be upheld.
-
On Wednesday, Arizona lawmakers wrestled over whether to pass a bill that would exempt historic neighborhoods from middle housing. -
Tuesday night's vote marked the last increase of a three-year water plan set in 2023. The council voted 4-3 to increase water rates by 25%. -
Sen. Ruben Gallego said as younger people struggle to build wealth through homeownership, Gen Z is on track for a difficult economic future. -
More than 500 Arizona health care providers have signed an online petition asking for a series of changes to the ways in which the Trump administration carries out immigration enforcement that impact residents’ access to — and quality of — medical care. -
Sen. J.D. Mesnard is proposing legislation to expand the state's laws which make it a crime to use residential property in a way that creates a public nuisance.
