BILL #    HB 2551

TITLE:     misconduct involving weapons; public places

SPONSOR:    Kavanagh

STATUS:   House Engrossed

PREPARED BY:    Ryan Fleischman

 

 

 

Description

 

The bill would prevent certain public entities from prohibiting individuals with concealed carry weapons permits from carrying firearms on their premises except when security measures are taken.  The public entity may ban firearms if it provides security personnel at its entrance along with a screening device.

 

Estimated Impact

 

The bill may increase agency costs if it chooses to ban firearms and add security personnel and screening devices.  We cannot determine in advance the number of public facilities that would opt to ban firearms.  Based on ADOA assumptions, we estimate the annual staffing cost for a single-entrance building to be $130,000 and the one-time equipment cost to be $5,500 per entrance.

 

Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) estimates that the bill would cost $3.4 million - $6.3 million in the first year and $3.3 million - $6.2 million for each year thereafter to provide security at 2-4 doors per building for all ADOA-managed buildings within the ADOA Building System without such security currently.  This estimate assumes that all ADOA Building System agencies would not allow permitted firearm carriers in their buildings.

 

Analysis

 

The bill prohibits public entities from banning firearms on their property unless they provide a security guard and electronic weapon screening device.  Courts, correctional facilities, universities, community colleges, educational institutions, Arizona State Hospital, special health care districts, and other specified locations would be exempt from the requirement to provide a guard and screening device.

 

ADOA estimated that there are 25 ADOA-managed buildings in the ADOA Building System that would require additional staffing and equipment to be defined as a "secured facility." ADOA assumed staffing costs of $16.60 - $18.60 per hour plus benefits depending on whether the security personnel are armed and a 12-hour workday.  ADOA assumed 2 personnel would be needed for buildings limited to 1 entrance and 3 personnel for buildings with 2 entrances.  These ongoing costs would be in addition to one-time metal detector costs of $5,500 per detector.  These costs total $3.4 million - $6.3 million in the first year and $3.3 million - $6.2 million for each year thereafter assuming 1-2 doors per building and depending on whether the security officers are armed.

 

Local Government Impact

 

Local government entities that opt to ban firearms from their facilities would incur the same security costs as state agencies.

 

2/23/21