ARIZONA ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM

Betty McEntire, Executive Director 602-542-1627 (direct) 602-542-1653 (general info) 602-542-1892 (government) [email protected]

Office of Secretary of State Ken Bennett

OBJECTIVES

 Outline critical components of the Address Confidentiality Program  Define state and local government agencies/entities requirements under the ACP laws.  Explain processes affected directly by public schools when interacting with ACP participants.

WHAT IS ACP?

( A R S § 41 - 1 6 2 )  Part of a safety plan to assist victims of DV, Sexual Offenses & Stalking maintain her/his confidential location.

 Administered by Secretary of State’s Office, laws governing the program: Title 41, Article 3, Chapter 1.

 27 th state to implement an ACP program (program began June 4, 2012).  Funded by a $50 assessment levied on persons convicted of crimes outlined in ARS §13-3601, Title 13 Chapter 14 or 35.1 and/or ARS §13-2923.

ACP PROGRAM

 Two- part process  Designate a substitute address that will become the participant’s legal address of record.   Fictitious address (Apt #) Address to be used instead of actual (mailing, physical, real, confidential) address for purposes of residential, work, and school  Mail Forwarding     Receive and Forward mail to the participant Receive 1 st class, certified, or registered mail, including service of process.

No cost to participants Cannot forward packages, junk mail, or magazines

PARTICIPANTS

 Adult or Child  Victim of DV, Sexual Offenses or Stalking (as prescribed in ARS §13-3601, offenses included in Title 13, Chapter 14 or 35.1, ARS §13-2923) and in fear of safety  Or lives with an certified participant  Must have relocated within 90 days or is planning on relocating in near future in Arizona  Must provide evidence of victimization  Currently, 200 families enrolled, over 400 participants (1/2 are children)

CERTIFICATION

 Five Years, unless…  Self-Withdrawal  Can be cancelled from ACP  Mail returned as undeliverable  Failed to provide change of address/phone/name change  Provided false information on application

REALITY OF PARTICIPATION

 Not every survivor of Domestic Violence, Sexual Offenses or Stalking will be eligible for program  Not every survivor will want to be in this program  Some will enroll and realize inconvenience and re -assess  Large presence in cities located within Maricopa and Pima Counties  Must meet with a registered and trained Application Assistant

FRONT IMAGE OF ACP AUTHORIZAT ION CARD

BACK IMAGE OF ACP AUTHORIZA TION CARD

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES

 Request to use substitute address for work, residential, and school    Initiates on new public record Must show agency valid and current ACP authorization card Request to redact/change     Initiates, no assumption on government entity Must show valid and current ACP authorization card Only back to 90 days from DOE Only confidential address  If cancelled, must notify agency of change of address

STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

ARS § 41 - 16 6  Accept the ACP substitute address as lawful address of record  Cannot require participants to disclose their true address  Can call and verify enrollment status in ACP (602 -542-1892)  Authorized to make a copy of authorization card  Substitute address considered last known address, until notified.  Telephone number non-disclosable or open for inspection

Eligibility & Enrollment Records Transfer

SCHOOLS AND THE ACP

Transportation Emergency Situations

ELIGIBILITY/ ENROLLMENT



3 simple steps

 Call the ACP to verify a student’s status in the program  Submit enrollment eligibility form to the program  The ACP will respond in writing yes/no

EXAMPLE OF ELIGIBILIT Y FORM

SCHOOL RECORDS

 ACP facilitates records between previous and new school *Parent Makes Request to ACP  Statutory requirement for security of student/parent  Between districts (as well as Intra-District)  Best to transfer within 10 day requirement

RECORDS TRANSFER

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

 Only minimum info necessary  i.e. crossroads, zip code, etc.  name of student cannot match  IEP Transportation Requirements (front door to front door)  ACP & parent must work in collaboration w/ school (transportation- bus driver, bus aide, special education teacher/aides)  Statute outlined process  Standard Disclosure Process  Includes who will have address/ how will address be stored/deleted, etc.  Encourage school to reach out to ACP to help facilitate process

STANDARD DISCLOSURE

 Making the Request       Agency Letterhead Required information needed Signatures of individual and supervisor Phone numbers for both Copy of agency adopted procedures Address must be protected from individuals outside of the request.  Record of an ACP participant confidential address, not available for inspection

 Participants in program are trying to actively maintain the safety of their family.  The ACP provides survivors a legal substitute address and mail forwarding services  State and local government agencies/entities are required to accept the address as the legal address of record for work, home, and school  ACP is a partner with parent and school on eligibility/enrollment, school records, and transportation

CONCLUSION

ANY QUESTIONS?