 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
gang and immigration intelligence; appropriation
Purpose
Expands the allowable sources, uses and receipts of Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund (GIITEM Fund) monies. Appropriates $2,000,000 in FYs 2025 and 2026 from the GIITEM Fund to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to establish and maintain the Southern Arizona Counterterrorism Information Center.
Background
The GIITEM Fund consists of monies deposited from fees assessed on fines, violations, forfeitures and penalties for criminal and civil motor vehicle violations and legislative appropriation. Any GIITEM Fund monies distributed to a county sheriff must go directly to the county sheriff and are not subject to county board of supervisor approval. GIITEM Fund monies must be used for employer sanctions enforcement, enforcing human and drug smuggling laws, gang and strict immigration enforcement, county jail reimbursement costs relating to illegal immigration and any other use previously authorized in an allocation made by law for GIITEM (A.R.S. § 41-1724).
The Consumer Remediation Subaccount of the Consumer Restitution and Remediation Revolving Fund (Subaccount) consists of monies collected because of a settlement to rectify violations of consumer protection laws. All monies from opioid claims-related litigation or settlements are subject to legislative appropriation. The current FY 2024 estimated balance of the subaccount is $67,507,200 (JLBC).
According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), H.B. 2278 appropriates $2,000,000 from the Subaccount to the GIITEM Fund for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a southern Arizona Counterterrorism Information Center (JLBC Fiscal Note).
Provisions
1. Expands the allowable sources of monies deposited into the GIITEM Fund to include grants.
2. Expands the eligible receipts of monies from the GIITEM Fund to include county attorneys and requires the monies go directly to the county attorney, and stipulates the monies are not subject to any approval from the county board of supervisors.
3. Expands the allowable uses of monies from the GIITEM Fund to include prosecuting human smuggling and immigration enforcement.
4. Requires GIITEM to partner with sheriffs that share a border with Mexico to establish and maintain a Southern Arizona Counterterrorism Information Center.
5. Requires the Southern Arizona Counterterrorism Information Center to receive, analyze, gather and share any information between state, local, federal, tribal and private sector participants related to any potential threats.
6. Appropriates $2,000,000 in FYs 2025 and 2026 from the Subaccount to the GIITEM Fund.
7. Appropriates $2,000,000 in FYs 2025 and 2026 from the GIITEM Fund to DPS to establish and maintain a Southern Arizona Counterterrorism Information Center.
8. Exempts the appropriations from lapsing.
9. Makes technical and conforming changes.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
MAPS 2/12/24 DPA 8-6-1-0
APPROP 2/14/24 DPA 10-6-1-0
3rd Read 2/28/24 31-28-0-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 8, 2024
ZD/cs