ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: MAPS DP 6-1-0-0 | 3rd Read 26-3-1-0

SB 1055: full-service crime labs; funding; appropriation

Sponsor: Senator Gowan, LD 19

Committee on Appropriations

Overview

Replaces statutory Department of Public Safety Forensics Fund (Fund) allocations to political subdivisions with a formula and appropriates monies from the state General Fund (GF) to the Fund.

History

The Fund receives revenue from the Criminal Justice Enhancement Fund, a court surcharge for criminal offenses and civil traffic violations, and the first $10,400,000 of revenue generated from the defensive driving school fee (A.R.S. §§ 12-116.01; 28-3396; 41-2401).

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) administers the Fund, and is required to distribute 45% of the Fund's balance on a quarterly basis to the Phoenix Police Department (22%), Tucson Police Department (12%), Mesa Police Department (7%) and Scottsdale Police Department (4%). DPS may use the remainder of the Fund for outlined forensics purposes, including crime laboratory operations and equipment, fingerprint identification equipment, and DNA testing (A.R.S. § 41-1730).

Provisions

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteRequires DPS to distribute monies in the Fund to each full-service crime laboratory, rather than to specific political subdivisions. (Sec. 1)

2.   Outlines that the distribution is to be determined by the proportion of Group A and Group B crimes reported to the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System by a full-service crime laboratory, compared to the total number reported in all jurisdictions. (Sec. 1)

3.   Removes the requirement that crime laboratory directors must agree on the distribution formula and allocation. (Sec. 1)

4.   Changes the definition of crime laboratory to full-service crime laboratory, which must:

a)   Be operated by either a criminal justice agency of the state or a political subdivision;

b)   Be accredited by an organization that uses field specific accreditation standards; and

c)   Provide a minimum of six of nine outlined forensic disciplines, including at least DNA, digital forensics or drug toxicology. (Sec. 1)

5.   Appropriates a non-lapsing $700,000 from the GF in FYs 2024, 2025 and 2026 to the Fund for distribution. (Sec. 2)

6.   Appropriates a non-lapsing $200,000 from the GF in FY 2024 to DPS for crime lab services. (Sec. 2)

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10.                    SB 1055

11.  Initials AF  Page 0 Appropriations

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