HB 2650
Initials FK Page 1 Military Affairs & Public Safety
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
HB 2650: critical incident bureau; establishment; DPS
Sponsor: Representative Bowers, LD 25
Committee on Military Affairs & Public Safety
Overview
Establishes a critical incident bureau (Bureau) within the Department of Public Safety (DPS), and
appropriates monies to establish and maintain the Bureau and support regional law enforcement
task forces.
History
Statute authorizes DPS the following divisions:
1) Arizona highway patrol;
2) Narcotics enforcement and criminal investigation;
3) Scientific criminal analysis; and
4) Training and education (A.R.S. § 41-1712).
Statute authorizes the DPS director to establish other divisions or to reorganize the department
(A.R.S. § 41-1712).
The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) must prescribe reasonable
minimum qualifications for officers to become certified peace officers (PO). The qualifications
include United States citizenship, relate to physical, mental and moral fitness and must govern
the recruitment, appointment and retention of all peace officers in Arizona (A.R.S. § 41-1822).
Provisions
1. Establishes a Bureau within DPS effective July 1st, 2025. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires the superintendent of the Bureau to have a minimum of five years' experience in law
enforcement administration. (Sec. 2)
3. Authorizes the director of DPS to adopt rules that govern the policies, procedures and
administration of the Bureau. (Sec. 2)
4. States the Bureau must:
a) Use investigators who are certified by AZPOST and have completed investigative courses
identified by the director and approved by AZPOST to conduct independent investigation
of critical force incidents; and
b) Investigate a criminal misconduct allegation against a PO employed by a law enforcement
agency upon the written request by a county sheriff or chief of police. (Sec. 2)
5. Requires every law enforcement agency to utilize either the Bureau, a regional law
enforcement task force or an outside law enforcement agency to investigate any critical force
incident in Arizona. (Sec. 2)
6. Appropriates $24,400,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2023 to DPS to establish
and maintain the Bureau. (Sec. 3)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2650
Initials FK Page 2 Military Affairs & Public Safety
7. Appropriates $600,000 from the state GF in FY 2023 to the Arizona Criminal Justice
Commission to distribute to regional law enforcement task forces. (Sec. 3)
8. States all appropriations are non-lapsing. (Sec. 3)
9. Defines critical force incident. (Sec. 2)