House Engrossed

law enforcement; response times; requirements

(now:  police response time; study committee)

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

HOUSE BILL 2418

An Act

establishing the police response time study committee.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Police response time study committee; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A. The police response time study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1. Two members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate and who are of different political parties. The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

2. Two members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who are of different political parties. The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

3. The executive director of the Arizona criminal justice commission or the executive director’s designee.

4. Two chiefs of police of a municipality or from a statewide organization that represents police chiefs, one member who represents a municipality with a population of less than one hundred thousand persons and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one member who represents a municipality with a population of more than one hundred thousand persons and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

5. A county sheriff or the county sheriff’s designee who is appointed by the president of the senate.

6. A representative from a statewide organization that represents Arizona state troopers who is appointed by the president of the senate.

7. A representative from a city or town or a statewide organization that represents cities and towns who is appointed by the president of the senate.

8. A representative from a statewide organization that represents police officers who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

9. A representative from a tribal law enforcement agency who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

10. A public member who is actively involved in public safety and victims’ rights issues and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

B. Appointed members serve at the pleasure of the person who made the appointment.

C. Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation.

D. The committee shall:

1. Meet as often as the cochairpersons deems necessary.

2. Solicit ideas and opinions from law enforcement officials, subject matter experts and the community on recommendations to maintain or improve emergency call response times and critical law enforcement staffing shortages in the state, including staff recruitment, hiring and retention.

3. Compile appropriate methods and data sources cities and towns should use to calculate emergency call response times and an overview of best practices and time frames for emergency call response times.

4. Review data on emergency call response times of Arizona law enforcement agencies.

5. On or before December 21, 2023, submit a final report regarding the committee’s findings that will enhance better response times in this state to the speaker of the house of representative and the president of the senate and provide a copy of this report to the executive director of the Arizona criminal justice commission and the secretary of state.

E. This section is repealed from and after June 30, 2024.

Sec. 2. Emergency

This act is an emergency measure that is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative immediately as provided by law.