HB 2479
Initials NM Page 1 Military Affairs & Public Safety
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
HB 2479: law enforcement merit system; continuation
Sponsor: Representative Payne, LD 27
Committee on Military Affairs & Public Safety
Overview
Continues the Law Enforcement Merit System Council (LEMSC) for 8 years.
History
LEMSC is charged with adopting rules to govern the employment of personnel who hold covered
positions within the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) or the Arizona Peace Officer
Standards and Training Board (AZPOST). LEMSC rules govern compensation, qualifications,
selection, retention and other related employment matters for covered employees. LEMSC
additionally conducts hearings of employee grievances and hears appeals in connection with
employee suspension, demotion, dismissal, pay reduction and loss of leave time. LEMSC also
sits to hear disciplinary appeals for other state agencies that employ AZPOST certified full-
authority police officers who hold covered positions (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 12, Article 10).
LEMSC is composed of five members appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate,
to three-year terms. No more than three of LEMSC's members may be from the same political
party (A.R.S. § 41-1830.11).
On November 16, 2022, the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee of Reference and
the Senate Judiciary Committee of Reference jointly met to conduct a review of LEMSC and
recommended that LEMSC be continued for eight years.
Provisions
1. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2023, LEMSC until July 1, 2031. (Sec. 2, 4)
2. Repeals LEMSC on January 1, 2032. (Sec. 2)
3. Contains a purpose statement. (Sec. 3)
4. Makes a conforming change. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note