By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services/Arizona Capitol Times
Child welfare workers can interview children without the consent of their parents, Attorney General Mark Brnovich concluded Monday.
In a 10-page formal opinion, Brnovich said a contrary finding by the Arizona Ombudsman office is legally wrong. In fact, the attorney general suggested that opinion was based on “hypertechnical textual analysis.”
Monday’s opinion is a victory for Greg McKay, director of the state Department of Child Safety. He has consistently insisted that interviews without parental consent have been agency practice for some time.
And McKay said he could find no court rulings to the contrary.
Brnovich agreed.
Related: A look at HB 2442 and the rights it gives to foster parents/East Valley Tribune