Assigned to MAPS FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1369
certified peace officers; hiring reimbursement
Purpose
Allows a law enforcement agency that pays the certification and training costs for a peace
officer that is subsequently hired by another law enforcement agency within a certain number of
years to seek reimbursement for the costs at a specified percentage.
Background
Statute requires the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) to set
reasonable minimum qualifications for officers to be appointed to enforce the laws of Arizona and
political subdivisions of Arizona and requires AZPOST to certify officers in compliance with these
qualifications. The qualifications require U.S. citizenship, relate to physical, mental and moral
fitness and govern the recruitment, appointment and retention of all agents, peace officers and
police officers of every political subdivision of Arizona (A.R.S. ยง 41-1822).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a law enforcement agency that pays the costs of an employed peace officer's AZPOST
certification and training to seek reimbursement for the costs from another hiring law
enforcement agency.
2. Requires the hiring law enforcement agency to reimburse:
a) 100 percent of the costs if the officer leaves the original law enforcement agency within
one year after employment;
b) 75 percent of the costs if the officer leaves the original law enforcement agency between 1
year and two years after employment; or
c) 50 percent of the costs if the officer leaves the original law enforcement agency between
two years and three years after employment.
3. Specifies that costs related to a peace officer's certification and training include travel, housing
and salary during training.
4. Allows an original law enforcement agency to waive reimbursement for a peace officer who
voluntarily leaves employment and who is subsequently employed by the hiring law
enforcement agency for any reason, including employee hardship and extenuating family
circumstances. FACT SHEET
S.B. 1369
Page 2
5. Prohibits a hiring law enforcement agency from requiring a peace officer to assume
responsibility for repaying the peace officer's certification costs or any other related costs in
an effort to be reimbursed.
6. Prohibits a hiring law enforcement agency, when making employment decisions, from
considering whether the hiring law enforcement agency will be required to make
reimbursement for training costs if a particular applicant is employed.
7. Requires the original law enforcement agency to submit an itemized statement to the certified
peace officer's hiring law enforcement agency for payment.
8. Allows the original law enforcement agency to enforce collection of any obligation through
civil remedies and procedures.
9. Defines hiring law enforcement agency as a law enforcement agency in Arizona, or a city,
town or county or a political subdivision that hires a certified peace officer after the certified
peace officer voluntarily or involuntarily leaves the employment of the law enforcement
agency that paid the peace officer's costs of certification.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2023
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