Senate, House overwhelmingly OK extra CPS cash
Web Producer: Ina Ronquillo
PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved an emergency request from Gov. Jan Brewer to hire 50 new Child Protective Services workers.
Brewer plans to sign the bill into law Thursday afternoon.
There was no opposition in either chamber, with the House voting 60-0 and the Senate 28-0 with two members absent.
The law provides $4.4 million so the overwhelmed agency can hire the new workers immediately.
Brewer also is asking the Legislature for $67 million for 150 more CPS workers, foster care and other new child protection spending for the budget year beginning July 1.
CPS has seen a 32 percent increase in abuse reports since 2009 and the number of children in out-of-home care has increased by 40 percent.
The agency saw big staffing cuts during the recession.
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