ARIZONA STATE SENATE
RESEARCH STAFF
|
ZACHARY DEAN |
|
ASSISTANT RESEARCH ANALYST |
|
JEFFREY ONG |
|
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Telephone: (602) 926 -3171 |
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
DATE: March 12, 2018
SUBJECT: Strike everything amendment to H.B. 2152, relating to joint power authorities; fingerprinting.
______________________________________________________________________________
Purpose
An emergency measure that requires probationary employees in a firefighter, reserve firefighter or volunteer firefighter position to submit a full set of fingerprints to a joint powers authority.
Background
Current statute allows cities, towns, counties and fire districts to form separate legal entities and may jointly exercise powers held in common by the contracting parties. These common powers may include the following: 1) fire protection; 2) preservation of life; 3) providing emergency medical services; and 4) ambulance transportation services. The governing bodies of these separate legal entities must be composed of elected officials of one or more of the political subdivisions that are parties to the agreement (A.R.S. § 48-805.01).
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is currently responsible for the effective operation of the central state repository for the purposes of collecting, storing, and disseminating complete and accurate Arizona criminal history records. In conjunction with this responsibility, DPS is also required to procure fingerprints from all criminal justice agencies in the state for the purposes of issuing fingerprint clearance cards (A.R.S. § 41-1750).
Currently, fire districts are required to obtain a full set of fingerprints for any probationary employee in a paid sworn firefighter, reserve firefighter or volunteer firefighter position. A fire district may also require all employees to submit a full set of fingerprints. Fingerprint data may be exchanged with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (A.R.S. § 48-805).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires probationary employees in a firefighter, reserve firefighter or volunteer firefighter position to submit a full set of fingerprints to a joint powers authority established pursuant to statute.
2. Requires a joint powers authority to submit fingerprints to DPS for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check.
3. Becomes effective on signature of the Governor, if the emergency clause is enacted.