Assigned to MAPS AS PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
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. § 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. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1369
Page 2
5. Requires employee hardship and extenuating family circumstances to be considered
presumptive reasons for reimbursement waivers.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Requires the original law enforcement agency to submit an itemized statement to the certified
peace officer's hiring law enforcement agency for payment.
9. Allows the original law enforcement agency to enforce collection of any obligation through
civil remedies and procedures.
10. Requires a law enforcement agency to include an explanation of hiring reimbursement
requirements in employment documentation provided to a certified peace officer during the
agency's hiring process.
11. Stipulates that hiring reimbursement requirements do not apply to an employee who leaves the
original law enforcement agency, is not employed as a certified peace officer for one year or
more and is subsequently hired by a hiring law enforcement agency.
12. 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 leaves the employment of the law enforcement agency that paid the
peace officer's costs of certification.
13. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Stipulates that employee hardship and extenuating family circumstances must be considered
presumptive reasons for reimbursement waivers.
2. Requires an agency to include an explanation of hiring reimbursement requirements in the
employment documentation provided to a certified peace officer during the agency's hiring
process.
3. Exempts a law enforcement agency from being liable for reimbursement costs of a law
enforcement officer's AZPOST training and certification if the officer leaves the original
agency and is not employed as a certified peace officer for one year or more before being hired
by another law enforcement agency.
4. Specifies that a hiring law enforcement agency is not liable for AZPOST certification and
training costs for a certified peace officer who involuntarily leaves the employment of the
original agency. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1369
Page 3
Senate Action
MAPS 2/15/23 DP 6-1-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 1, 2023
ZD/sr