REFERENCE TITLE: post-traumatic stress disorders: public safety

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015

HB 2438

Introduced by Representative Livingston

 

AN ACT

 

establishing the post-traumatic stress disorder in public safety study committee.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Post‑traumatic stress disorder in public safety study committee; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The post‑traumatic stress disorder in public safety study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Two members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who are members of different political parties.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

2.  Two members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate and who are members of different political parties.  The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

3.  Four members who represent the law enforcement community, two of whom are from a county with a population of one million two hundred thousand persons or more and who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and two of whom are from a county with a population of less than one million two hundred thousand persons and who are appointed by the president of the senate.

4.  Two psychologists, one of whom is from a county with a population of one million two hundred thousand persons or more and who is appointed by the president of the senate and one of whom is from a county with a population of less than one million two hundred thousand persons and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

5.  Three members, one each from Arizona state university, the university of Arizona and northern Arizona university, who are faculty members with expertise in law, criminology or sociology or another relevant field and who are appointed by the president of each member's respective university.

B.  The cochairpersons shall be members of different political parties.

C.  The study committee shall research and report on the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on state and local law enforcement officers.

D.  The post‑traumatic stress disorder in public safety study committee may:

1.  Request information, data and reports from any county or state agency or political subdivision of this state.  If possible, information shall be provided electronically.

2.  Hold hearings, conduct fact-finding tours and take testimony from witnesses, including law enforcement officers, who may assist the committee in fulfilling its responsibilities.

E.  On the request of the post‑traumatic stress disorder in public safety study committee, an agency of this state must provide to the committee its services, equipment, documents, personnel and facilities to the extent possible without cost to the committee.

F.  The legislature shall provide staff and support services to the study committee.

G.  The study committee shall meet at the state capitol or at other places as the cochairpersons deem necessary or convenient, and all meetings shall be open to the public. 

H.  Members of the study committee are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

I.  On or before December 31, 2015, the study committee shall submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate and provide a copy of its report to the secretary of state.  

J.  This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2016.