The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take the next step in creating a new state agency to oversee child welfare issues. This follows Gov. Jan Brewer’s plans to replace Child Protective Services. Gov. Brewer announced plans earlier this month to create the Child Safety and Family Services Division.

It would replace the scandal ridden CPS. Late last year an investigation found that CPS workers had ignored 6,500 complaints of possible child abuse.

The appropriations committee is scheduled to vote on legislation that calls for $5.7 million to hire 192 full-time workers to manage investigations. Usually funding bills passed during the session would not take effect until the start of the fiscal year in July, but this bill would make the funding available as soon as the governor signs it. Supplemental funding for family services, children in foster care and other services proposed in the governor's budget are not covered by this bill.