Assigned to JUD & APPROP FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2554
search and rescue equipment fund
Purpose
Establishes the County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Equipment Fund (Fund) and
appropriates $1,000,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) to the Fund to be distributed to
county sheriffs' offices as outlined for search and rescue related equipment to enhance the sheriffs'
search and rescue mission capabilities.
Background
The sheriff must conduct or coordinate within the county search or rescue operations
involving the life or health of any person or may assist in such operations in another county at the
request of that county's sheriff. To request assistance of the national guard, or the unorganized
militia, or any part thereof in a search or rescue operation involving the life or health of any person,
the sheriff or other officer of a political subdivision who is conducting the search or rescue
operation must, by the most rapid and suitable means of communication available, convey the need
to the State Director of Emergency Management for transmittal to the Governor. If the Governor
grants the request, the sheriff or other officer must, within two days, transmit a written
confirmation of the request to the Governor (A.R.S. ยงยง 11-441 and 26-172).
H.B. 2554 appropriates $1,000,000 from the state GF to the Fund in FY 2024.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Fund consisting of legislative appropriations.
2. Appropriates $1,000,000 from the state GF to the Fund in FY 2024.
3. Requires the State Treasurer to administer the Fund and to distribute monies from the Fund,
beginning in FY 2024 and each year thereafter, to county sheriffs' offices as follows:
a) not more than 18 percent to Cochise County;
b) not more than 21 percent to Coconino County;
c) not more than 2.5 percent to Gila County;
d) not more than 0.5 percent to Greenlee County;
e) not more than 21 percent to Mohave County;
f) not more than 0.5 percent to Navajo County;
g) not more than 22 percent to Pinal County;
h) not more than 13.5 percent to Yavapai County; and
i) not more than a total of 1 percent distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to Apache,
Graham, La Paz, Maricopa, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma Counties. FACT SHEET
H.B. 2554
Page 2
4. Specifies that monies distributed from the Fund are for search and rescue related equipment to
enhance the sheriffs' search and rescue mission capabilities.
5. Specifies that unexpended monies remaining at the end of the fiscal year are considered part
of the total fund balance for the following fiscal year and are available for redistribution as
outlined.
6. Exempts the $1,000,000 appropriation from lapsing.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
MAPS 2/13/23 DP 15-0-0-0
APPROP 2/20/23 DP 15-0-0-0
3
rd
Read 2/28/23 31-28-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 21, 2023
ZD/KS/sr