Families and advocates urge restoration of COMET group‑home oversight after testimony of abuse and a recent death

Multiple family members and disability advocates urged the joint appropriations committee to restore independent oversight funding for licensed group homes, saying the COMET monitoring program prevents abuse and saves lives.

Amber Brown, who identified herself as the legal co‑guardian of her 22‑year‑old son with severe autism, told the committee that her son suffered repeated assaults and that state oversight reductions contributed to the risk he now faces. "Matthew didn't come to you broken. This state made him that way," she said, and asked lawmakers to "choose $1,200,000 in oversight" to fund Disability Rights Arizona's COMET program.

Advocates and family members testified that COMET serves as an independent set of eyes inside licensed residential settings and that $1.2 million represents a small investment compared with the cost of crises. Amy Haley, a mother of a profoundly disabled son, called COMET "one of the most cost effective tools government has" and said oversight promotes accountability that protects vulnerable residents.

Brandy (Raising Voices Coalition) described a recent death of a DDD member who was reportedly left unattended in a vehicle when temperatures reached 106 degrees, arguing that independent monitoring would have detected supervision failures earlier. Committee members expressed condolences and noted the testimony, but no immediate change to the budget was enacted in the hearing.

Committee leaders asked advocates to continue engaging leadership and staff on the floor if they want to pursue restoration or a floor amendment. Members and staff discussed the timeline pressures of a negotiated package and agreed advocates' concerns may be considered during floor debate.