Assigned to JUDE AS PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1279
technical correction; military; special plates
(NOW: criminal justice commission; sheriffs)
Purpose
Establishes the Sheriff's Criminal Justice Commission (SCJC) and repeals the Arizona
Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC).
Background
Statute requires the ACJC to perform a variety of responsibilities that include:
1) monitoring the progress and implementation of criminal justice legislation; 2) facilitating
research among criminal justice agencies and maintaining criminal justice information;
3) coordinating efforts to improve data sharing; 4) preparing a biennial criminal justice system
review report for the Governor; and 5) accepting and extending public and private grants of
monies. The ACJC is set to terminate on July 1, 2025 (A.R.S. §§ 41-2405 and 41-3025.01).
The ACJC consists of the following members: 1) the Attorney General; 2) the Director of
the Department of Public Safety; 3) the Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections,
Rehabilitation and Reentry; 4) the Administrative Director of the Courts; 5) the Chairperson of the
Board of Executive Clemency; 6) three police chiefs; 7) three county attorneys; 8) three county
sheriffs; 9) a law enforcement leader; 10) a former judge; 11) a mayor; 12) a member of the county
board of supervisors; 13) a public defender; 14) a victim advocate; and 15) a chief probation officer
(A.R.S. § 41-2404).
The Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee of Reference (COR) held a public meeting
on Thursday, January 23, 2025, to consider the ACJC's responses to the statutorily outlined sunset
factors and receive public testimony. The COR recommended that the ACJC be continued with
revisions (COR Report). The ACJC terminates on July 1, 2025, unless continued by the Legislature
(A.R.S. § 41-3025.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the SCJC, retroactive to July 1, 2025, consisting of:
a) two county sheriffs appointed by the President of the Senate;
b) two county sheriffs appointed by the House of Representatives;
c) two municipal law enforcement chiefs of police appointed by the Governor;
d) one county sheriff appointed by the Governor; and
e) two members of the public from different political parties, one with experience in federal
law and one with experience in state law, appointed by the Governor. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1279
Page 2
2. Requires members to serve two year terms terminating on the convening of the First Regular
Session of the Legislature.
3. Specifies that an appointed member who ceases to be an elected sheriff or municipal law
enforcement chief of police during the member's term is deemed to have resigned.
4. Specifies vacancies will be made in the same manner as original appointment.
5. Requires the SCJC to meet and organize by electing, from its membership, officers as deemed
necessary.
6. Requires the commission to meet at least once each calendar quarter and additionally as the
chairperson deems necessary.
7. Specifies that a majority of members constitutes a quorum.
8. Specifies members are not eligible for compensation and are eligible for reimbursement of
expenses.
9. Terminates the SCJC on July 1, 2033.
10. Requires the SCJC on or before March 1, 2026, to provide a report to the Governor, President
of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives that contains:
a) any duties currently designed to the SCJC that should be repealed;
b) any duties currently designated to the SCJC that should be transferred to another
appropriate agency or department in Arizona; and
c) any additional duties that should be statutorily designated to the SCJC.
11. States that the SCJC succeeds to the authority, powers, duties and responsibilities of the ACJC.
12. States that all obligations and actions of the ACJC in existence before July 1, 2025, are not
altered.
13. States that administrative rules and orders that were adopted by the ACJC continue in effect
until superseded by administrative action by the SCJC.
14. States that on July 1, 2025, the ACJC transfers to the SCJC:
a) all administrative matters, contracts and judicial and quasi-judicial actions, whether
completed, pending or in process;
b) all equipment, records, furnishings and other property data and investigative findings, all
obligations and all appropriated monies that are unexpended and unencumbered; and
c) all personnel, in comparable positions and pay classifications in the respective
administrative units, who are under the state personnel system and employed by the ACJC.
15. Repeals the ACJC.
16. Makes conforming changes.
17. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactivity provision as noted. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1279
Page 3
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole:
• Adds two municipal chiefs of police, appointed by the Governor, to the list of members of the
SCJC.
• Specifies that a member appointed as a municipal chief of police that ceases to hold that
position throughout their entire term is deemed to have resigned.
Senate Action:
JUDE 2/19/25 DPA 4-2-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 27, 2025
ZD/AW/ci