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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
DPS; school safety; hotline
Purpose
Establishes a Center for School Safety within the Arizona Counterterrorism Information Center (ACTIC) for the purpose of operating a Safe Schools Hotline program.
Background
ACTIC exists within the Arizona Department of Safety (DPS) and serves as the central point of contact for criminal intelligence and counter terrorism in Arizona. Some of the functions of ACTIC include the collection and analysis of intelligence impacting homeland security, and the subsequent dissemination of this intelligence to support local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies. Citizens may provide ACTIC with anonymous tips or information regarding suspicious persons or circumstances.
The STOP School Violence Act of 2018 provides $50 million dollars per year to create and operate anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence, including mobile telephone applications, hotlines, and internet websites. The act implements improvements to school security infrastructure and develops student, teacher and law enforcement training to prevent violence (34 U.S.C. § 10551).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Director of DPS (Director) to establish a Center for School Safety in the ACTIC for the purpose of operating an anonymous Safe Schools Hotline Program (Hotline).
2. Specifies that the Hotline will allow a person to report dangerous, violent or unlawful activity that is being conducted or threatened on a school campus, school transportation, school sponsored event or school-related activity.
3. Requires DPS to coordinate training on school safety and best practices for school security between the Arizona Department of Education, school districts and law enforcement agencies.
4. Requires the Director to establish policies and procedures to address the following:
a) protection of the identity of any person submitting information and reports based on a good faith belief that the information is true; and
b) dissemination of information between school districts and law enforcement agencies.
5. States that any information reported via the Hotline is confidential and does not constitute a public record.
6. Stipulates that confidential information and related materials may only be disclosed before a court pursuant to a court order and must be limited to the specific case before the court.
7. States that the Attorney General, when acting on behalf of DPS, has standing in any action to oppose the disclosure of confidential information or materials that is in the custody of the Center for School Safety.
8. Makes technical changes.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 28, 2019
ZD/HB/gs