ANNA GROTHE

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH INTERN

KIYAHNA J ARAZA

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

PBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 17, 2025

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B.1231, relating to newly elected constables; training

Purpose

            Allows an elected or appointed constable to request training, prescribes requirements on how training is administered and allows a constable providing the training to do so in any county of Arizona.

Background

A constable must attend the courts of justices of the peace within the constable's precinct when required, and must, within the county, execute, serve and return all processes, warrants and notices directed or delivered to the constable by a justice of the peace of the county or by competent authority. A constable may perform required duties within any precinct in another county if that precinct adjoins the precinct in which the constable was elected or appointed (A.R.S. § 22-131).

The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) must approve a mandatory basic training course for newly elected constables covering topics including civil and criminal process, conflict resolution and firearm safety. Constables must attend the mandatory training course within six months after election. In subsequent years, constables must annually attend at least 16 hours of additional training approved by AZPOST. A copy of the certificate of completion for the training must be forwarded to the Constable Ethics Standards and Training Board (CESTB) within 30 days after completion (A.R.S. § 22-137).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Allows an elected or appointed constable to request training from the CESTB.

2. Requires the training, on approval by the CESTB, to be paid for by the CESTB and provided by a constable who is selected by the CESTB and completed the mandatory basic training.

3. Allows a constable selected to provide the training to provide that training in any county of Arizona. 

4. Makes technical changes.

5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.