SB 1055
Initials AF Page 1 Appropriations
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
Senate: MAPS DP 6-1-0-0 | 3
rd
Read 26-3-1-0
SB 1055: full-service crime labs; funding; appropriation
Sponsor: Senator Gowan, LD 19
Committee on Appropriations
Overview
Replaces statutory Department of Public Safety Forensics Fund (Fund) allocations to political
subdivisions with a formula and appropriates monies from the state General Fund (GF) to the
Fund.
History
The Fund receives revenue from the Criminal Justice Enhancement Fund, a court surcharge for
criminal offenses and civil traffic violations, and the first $10,400,000 of revenue generated from
the defensive driving school fee (A.R.S. §§ 12-116.01; 28-3396; 41-2401).
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) administers the Fund, and is required to distribute 45%
of the Fund's balance on a quarterly basis to the Phoenix Police Department (22%), Tucson Police
Department (12%), Mesa Police Department (7%) and Scottsdale Police Department (4%). DPS
may use the remainder of the Fund for outlined forensics purposes, including crime laboratory
operations and equipment, fingerprint identification equipment, and DNA testing (A.R.S. § 41-
1730).
Provisions
1. Requires DPS to distribute monies in the Fund to each full-service crime laboratory, rather
than to specific political subdivisions. (Sec. 1)
2. Outlines that the distribution is to be determined by the proportion of Group A and Group B
crimes reported to the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System by a full-service crime
laboratory, compared to the total number reported in all jurisdictions. (Sec. 1)
3. Removes the requirement that crime laboratory directors must agree on the distribution
formula and allocation. (Sec. 1)
4. Changes the definition of crime laboratory to full-service crime laboratory, which must:
a) Be operated by either a criminal justice agency of the state or a political subdivision;
b) Be accredited by an organization that uses field specific accreditation standards; and
c) Provide a minimum of six of nine outlined forensic disciplines, including at least DNA,
digital forensics or drug toxicology. (Sec. 1)
5. Appropriates a non-lapsing $700,000 from the GF in FYs 2024, 2025 and 2026 to the Fund
for distribution. (Sec. 2)
6. Appropriates a non-lapsing $200,000 from the GF in FY 2024 to DPS for crime lab services.
(Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note