ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: APPROP DP 11-7-0-0

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2951: criminal justice; 2025-2026

Sponsor: Representative Livingston (with permission of committee on Rules), LD 28

Caucus & COW

Overview

Contains provisions relating to criminal justice needed to implement the FY 2026 budget.

History

The Arizona Legislature adopts a budget for each fiscal year (FY) that contains general appropriations. Article IV, Section 20, Part 2 of the Constitution of Arizona requires the General Appropriations Act (feed bill) to contain only appropriations for the different state departments, state institutions, public schools and interest on public debt. Statutory changes necessary to reconcile the appropriations made in the feed bill and other changes are drafted into separate budget bills. These bills are prepared according to subject area.

Provisions

Child and Family Representation Program (Program)

1.   Establishes the Child and Family Representation Program (Program) in the Administrative Office of the Courts, to ensure uniform and high-quality representation and collaboration with the superior courts, judges and attorneys. (Sec. 1)

2.   Instructs the Supreme Court to employ the personnel needed to administer the Program. (Sec. 1)

3.   Outlines Program requirements, including assessing training availability, recommending training and caseload standards, auditing counsel performance, filing bar complaints, fostering partnerships, recommending counsel compensation, seeking funding and developing outcome metrics. (Sec. 1)

4.   Directs the Program to provide an annual report to the Legislature on the measures being taken to assess the effectiveness of council. (Sec. 1)

5.   Asserts, beginning in 2030 and every five years thereafter, that the Legislature must review if the Program should continue. (Sec. 1)

Judicial Employment

6.   Prohibits, unless expressly authorized by law or rule, judicial officers or employees from serving on any board, commission, council or task force. (Sec. 2)

7.   Freezes salaries, raises, bonuses and cost of living adjustments for family court judges and employees for FYs 2026-2028. (Sec. 2, 3)

 

 

Prison-Related Prosecutions

8.   Requires counties to establish an intergovernmental agreement with the Department of Corrections (DOR) before filing a prosecution cost claim, for prosecution of crimes related to state correctional facilities. (Sec. 5)

9.   Directs DOR to file such claims with the Arizona Department of Administration, concurrent with payment of the claim. (Sec. 5)

State Aid to Juvenile Proceedings Fund (Fund)

10.  Changes, retroactive to July 1, 2025, the distribution formula for the Fund, from being based on the average juvenile dependency case filings from FYs 2013-2015, to being based on the most recent fiscal year's filings. (Sec. 6, 10)

11.  Caps the maximum distribution a county may receive in any given fiscal year at $250,000. (Sec. 6)

Miscellaneous

12.  Clarifies that the use of Anti-Racketeering Fund monies may only be used for those purposes outlined in statute. (Sec. 4)

13.  Extends the expiration the Fentanyl Prosecution, Diversion and Testing Fund from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2027. (Sec. 7)

14.  Adjusts the assessment and appropriations for the Nuclear Emergency Management Fund by $50,000 in FYs 2026-2027. (Sec. 8, 9)

15.  Makes technical changes. (Sec. 6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                        HB 2951

Initials NM    Page 0 Caucus & COW

 

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