PHOENIX — Meta owes Arizona $223 million dollars for harming teen mental health on social media — Arizona’s share of a $17.1 billion multistate deal in which the company promised to change its practices — but splitting up the settlement dollars tees up another funding tussle between the Attorney General and the legislature.
Attorney General Kris Mayes said Wednesday her priority is to fund mental health counseling in public schools. But Republican leadership plans to stake their claim in how the funds are spent and expressed early opposition to limiting mental health funding to public education.
State law directs the attorney general to administer consumer restitution funds, but every other settlement dollar received but not specifically earmarked by court order goes to its own bank account.
