Assigned to JUD AS PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1626
study committee; registered sex offenders
Purpose
An emergency measure that establishes a six-member Study Committee on Registered Sex
Offenders (Study Committee) to examine the effectiveness of current Arizona laws relating to sex
offender registration.
Background
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) is in Title 1 of the federal
Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a set of minimum standards
for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA aims to, in part: 1)
extend jurisdictions in which registration is required; 2) require more sex offenses for which
registration is required; 3) require sex offenders to keep registration current in each jurisdiction in
which they reside; 4) require sec offenders to provide more information; 5) require sex offenders
to make periodic in-person appearances; 6) expand the amount of information available to the
pubic regarding registered sex offenders; and 7) make changes in the required minimum duration
registration for sex offenders (U.S. Department of Justice).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes a six-member Study Committee consisting of three members of the Senate and
three members of the House of Representatives, not more than two of which from each
chamber are of the same political party, with one member appointed by the majority leader of
each chamber, one member appointed by the minority leader of each chamber, and one
cochairperson appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
2. Stipulates that members appointed by the majority leader and minority leader of both chambers
must have the approval of the President of the Senate, or the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, as applicable.
3. Requires the Study Committee to:
a) meet as often as the cochairpersons deem necessary and in any place that the
cochairpersons deem necessary or convenient;
b) study current policies and practices of local, state and tribal law enforcement agencies and
county attorneys that relate to sexual offenses; FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1626
Page 2
c) examine the effectiveness of the current sex offender laws in Arizona to prevent recidivism
and protect the community from further sexual offenses; and
d) examine the standards set forth in the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
of 2006 and Title 1 of SORNA.
4. Requires a state agency or a political subdivision to, on request of the Study Committee, to
provide the Study Committee with its services, equipment, documents, personnel and facilities
to the extent possible without cost to the committee.
5. Allows the Study Committee to use the services of legislative staff to provide necessary
administrative and operational services.
6. Allows the Study Committee, by July 1, 2025, to submit a report of its findings and
recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Secretary of State and the Director of the Secretary of State.
7. Repeals the Study Committee on August 1, 2025.
8. Becomes effective on signature of the Governor, if the emergency clause is enacted.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires members of the Study Committee appointed by the majority and minority leaders of
the Senate and House of Representatives to have approval of the President or Speaker, as
applicable.
2. Extends the Study Committee report deadline from December 31, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
3. Adds an emergency clause.
Senate Action
JUD 2/15/24 DP 6-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 26, 2024
ZD/cs