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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
court security officers; certification; powers
Purpose
Allows courts to employ certified court security officers that possess and exercise all the law enforcement powers of a peace officer in performance of their duties.
Background
The Arizona Supreme Court, administrative order (AO) 2005-32, grants the presiding judge of each county administrative supervision over the superior court, including all of its divisions and judges in the county (AO 2005-32). Additionally, the presiding judge exercises administrative supervision over the clerk of the superior court, justice courts and municipal courts within the county. This administrative supervision includes the authority to establish court security policies and procedures which may include protocols, technology, security personnel or architectural features necessary to provide for a safe work environment. Additionally, this security authority is delegated to municipal courts in cities without a court administrator or where the authority is not delegated to a court administrator.
AO 2015-104 establishes the Court Security Standards Committee (Committee) to conduct a survey on court security provisions in Arizona courts and develop recommendations on standards for courthouse and courtroom security (AO 2015-104). In 2016, the Committee issued a final report, which recommends mandatory court security standards and requires the presiding judge of each county to establish a Court Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee to set goals for the implementation of court security standards and the review of local security plans. These security standards include requirements related to entryway screening and training for court security officers. AO 2017-15 requires all courts to comply with the court security standards adopted by the Committee (AO 2017-15).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows each court to use certified court security officers to ensure the safe transaction of business of the court.
2. Requires the Arizona Supreme Court to certify court security officers.
3. Grants court security officers all law enforcement powers of a peace officer in the performance of court security officer duties.
4. Specifies that court security officers are not eligible for the following retirement plans if solely employed as a court security officer:
a) Public Safety Personnel Retirement System;
b) Public Safety Personnel Defined Contribution Retirement Plan;
c) Public Safety Personnel Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Disability Program; and
d) Corrections Officer Retirement Plan.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 24, 2019
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