ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session
	House: MAPS DP 15-0-0-0 | 3^rd Read DP 58-2-0-0 Senate: MAPS DP 6-0-0-1 | 3^rd Read DP 22-7-0-1

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HB 2479: law enforcement merit system; continuation

Sponsor: Representative Payne, LD 27

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Continues the Law Enforcement Merit System Council (LEMSC) for 8 years.

History

LEMSC is charged with adopting rules to govern the employment of personnel who hold covered positions within the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) or the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST). LEMSC rules govern compensation, qualifications, selection, retention and other related employment matters for covered employees. LEMSC additionally conducts hearings of employee grievances and hears appeals in connection with employee suspension, demotion, dismissal, pay reduction and loss of leave time. LEMSC also sits to hear disciplinary appeals for other state agencies that employ AZPOST certified full-authority police officers who hold covered positions (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 12, Article 10).

LEMSC is composed of five members appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate, to three-year terms. No more than three of LEMSC's members may be from the same political party (A.R.S. § 41-1830.11).

On November 16, 2022, the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee of Reference and the Senate Judiciary Committee of Reference jointly met to conduct a review of LEMSC and recommended that LEMSC be continued for eight years.

Provisions

1. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2023, LEMSC until July 1, 2031. (Sec. 2, 4)

2. Repeals LEMSC on January 1, 2032. (Sec. 2)

3. Contains a purpose statement. (Sec. 3)

4. Makes a conforming change. (Sec. 1)

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8.                   HB 2479

9. Initials NM Page 0 Transmitted

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