Assigned to MAPS                                                                                              AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2818

service members; flags; half-staff

Purpose

Requires all state agencies to fly all flags displayed on or in front of all state buildings at half-staff on notification from the Governor of the death of a military service member of the U.S. Armed Forces who was killed in action who claimed Arizona as their home of record, or who was stationed in Arizona.

Background

The state flag must be displayed alongside the flag of the United States on or in front of the state capitol building, and institutional and educational buildings of Arizona as the Governor directs, on or in front of the courthouse of each county, and other institutional buildings of each county as the board of supervisors directs, and on or in front of the city or town hall of each incorporated city or town, and other municipally owned buildings as the governing body of the municipality directs (A.R.S. § 41-852).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires all state agencies, on notification from the Governor of the death of a military service member of the U.S. Armed Forces who was killed in action who claimed Arizona as their home of record or who was stationed in Arizona, to fly all flags displayed on or in front of all state buildings at half-staff.

2. Defines official notification as a casualty notification from the military service member's branch of service.

3. Designates this legislation as the Dan Ari Act.

4. Becomes effective on the general effective date. 

Amendments Adopted by Committee

1. Specifies that flags must be flown at half-staff for the death of a military service member of the US Armed Forces who was killed in action, rather than the death of any service member.

2. Adds a definition for official notification.

3. Removes the requirement for the Governor to notify state agencies to fly flags at half-staff within 48-hours after receiving notification of the death of an outlined service member.

House Action Senate Action

MAPS             2/12/24      DPA             13-1-0-1          MAPS       3/13/24      DPA       7-0-0-0

3^rd Read          2/26/24                           56-0-3-0-1

Prepared by Senate Research

March 14, 2024

ZD/KK/cs