Joint Border Security Advisory Committee 2011

ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

JOINT BORDER SECURITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2011

Minutes of the Meeting

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

9:00 a.m., House Hearing Room 1

Members Present:

Senator Al Melvin, CoChair	Representative David Stevens
Senator Gail Griffin	Representative Mesnard for Representative Andrew Tobin
Senator Steve Smith	Robert Halliday
Bas Aja	Sheriff Ralph Ogden
Sheriff Joseph M. Arpaio	Gilbert Orrantia
Steven Henry for Sheriff Paul Babeu	Charles Ryan
Terry Connor for John Halikowski

Members Absent:

Staff:

Joe DeMenna, House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee Assistant Analyst

Bill Boyd, Senate Government Committee Analyst

Bill Ritz, Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Analyst

Chairman Melvin called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m. and attendance was noted.

PRESENTATIONS

Charles Ryan, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) - Project Update

Mr. Ryan distributed "Arizona Department of Corrections" (Attachment A) and discussed the ADC Border Clean-Up Project.

John Halikowski, Director, Arizona Department of Transportation - Project Update

Kevin Biesty, Government Relations Director, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), distributed "ADOT Transportation Technology Group/Traffic Operations Center" (Attachment B).

Senator Melvin gave a brief overview of the different kinds and locations of operations centers and their uses.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County, gave a brief overview of his background. He discussed the issues of immigration and the laws relating to employer sanctions and human smuggling.

Chief Deputy Steven Henry of Pinal County addressed the Committee on behalf of Sheriff Paul Babeu. He spoke of their tactical and regional actions regarding border security and the interagency cooperation.

Captain Eben Bratcher, Yuma County Sheriff's Office, addressed the Committee on behalf of Sheriff Ralph Ogden. He spoke of their concerns regarding the increase in drug and human smuggling and the resources needed for progress to be made to stop the increase.

Representative Stevens gave an overview of the Committee website.

Senator Melvin read the mission statement of the Committee (Attachment C) and explained that information from the individual law enforcement agencies will be added to the website. He stated that work is in progress to make the website more user friendly.

Senator Smith gave an overview of the Arizona Border Fence Donation Website. He said that the website is a work in progress and constantly being improved.

Senator Melvin discussed the fences needed for the different types of terrain.

Overview of the Following Bills Passed in the Fiftieth Legislature - First Regular Session

Bill Boyd, Senate Legislative Research Analyst, explained the purpose of the following bills passed in the Fiftieth Legislature, First Regular Session:

SB1406 - interstate compact; border fence (Laws 2011, Chapter 309)

SB1495 - Arizona state guard; establishment (Laws 2011, Chapter 311)

SB1546 - eminent domain on federal property (Laws 2011, Chapter 356)

Set Date for Next Formal Meeting

Senator Melvin announced that meetings for this Committee will be held on the last Wednesday of each month in House Hearing Room 1 at 9:00 a.m.

Discussion

Senator Melvin discussed inviting a former border patrol agent to address the Committee regarding the border issues. He stated his desire to invite people that live near the border to address the Committee.

Senator Griffin discussed several newspaper articles of border related incidents from her area of southern Arizona and the lack of documentation of the numbers of illegal immigrants who don't get caught. She spoke of the benefits of the National Guard being visible in the area of the border and the need to improve cell phone accessibility. Senator Griffin discussed the different languages present in the graffiti and the warning signs posted by the Federal Government.

Chief Deputy Henry explained the necessity of air assets.

Bas Aja, Executive Vice President, Arizona Cattlemen's Association, discussed the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) recent activities in relation to Arizona. He encouraged the Committee to invite a representative from DHS to address the Committee.

Discussion was held regarding the recent wildfires and illegal border crossers.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:09 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Shelley Ponce

Committee Secretary

(Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov)

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JOINT BORDER SECURITY

ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2011

July 27, 2011

Page 1

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