A new bill by Senator Mark Finchem, SB 1081, moves to tighten up legal procedures in Department of Child Safety (DCS) cases by clarifying who may appear on behalf of attorneys in these serious family court matters.
Child welfare cases are some of the most important and sensitive in the legal system — decisions can affect whether a child stays safe and whether families remain intact. SB 1081 aims to strengthen court process by making sure attorneys and their representatives are properly empowered to participate, protecting due process for parents and children alike.
Due process isn’t optional. When the government intervenes in families, the stakes are profound. This bill reinforces clear rules for attorney participation in dependency, adoption, or parental rights proceedings, reducing confusion and potential procedural abuses. By improving how legal representation operates in these cases, SB 1081 helps ensure that decisions affecting children happen with greater fairness and scrutiny, not administrative ambiguity.
This is a commonsense reform that prioritizes legal clarity, child safety, and family rights — values that Arizona families and taxpayers deserve.
More info: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/83740