ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: MABS DP 7-0-0-0 |3rd Read 25-4-1-0 House: FMAE DP 7-0-0-0 | 3^rd Read: 41-11-8-0 Final Pass: 27-2-1-0 Chapter: 256

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SB 1281: adjutant general; duties

Sponsor: Senator Gowan, LD 19

Signed by the Governor

Overview

Alters requirements to be Adjutant General or Assistant Adjutants General and authorizes the Adjutant General to establish Project Challenge, subject to legislative appropriation and approval of the Governor.

History

The Adjutant General serves as the head of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) and acts as the Governor's military chief of staff. The National Guard of Arizona is administered and controlled by the Adjutant General, subject to the orders of the Governor who serves as commander in chief. Statute dictates certain additional duties the Adjutant General may perform with the approval of the Governor (A.R.S. §§ 26-101, 26-102).

Provisions

1. Requires the Adjutant General be a resident of the state or establish a domicile in the state for residency purposes within 90 days following their appointment. (Sec. 1)

2. Adds that the Adjutant General must meet any of the following criteria:

a) Have served two of the five years immediately preceding their appointment in the National Guard in the state or territory where the person is an assigned member;

b) Be a general officer who is currently serving, or a retired general officer who has been on retired status for no more than 24 months and has a minimum of five years of service in the rank of Colonel or higher in the National Guard of the state where they were assigned. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires that when the Adjutant General is appointed, if they are not already a general officer, they must attain federal recognition in a grade of at least brigadier general no later than two years after their appointment. (Sec. 1)

4. States any person who is currently serving and notified they are being considered for appointment must provide evidence they are in good standing with current Army or Air Force requirements for military service. (Sec. 1)

5. States if a retired general officer is appointed, they must provide evidence to the Governor they are in good standing within six months after the date of appointment. (Sec. 1)

6. Allows the Adjutant General to enter into a contract or agreement with an individual or political subdivision of the state to facilitate the following:

a) training;

b) emergency operations;

c) maintenance of aircraft;

d) safety, including emergency medical services;

e) movement or storage of aircraft;

f) recruitment and retention of personnel for the National Guard of Arizona. (Sec. 2)

7. Removes the requirement for the Adjutant General to establish an educational program designated Project Challenge. (Sec. 2)

8. Allows the Adjutant General to establish an educational program designated as Project Challenge subject to the Governor's approval and legislative appropriations. (Sec. 2)

9. Designates the program for individuals who have dropped out of high school, are under 20 years old and not adjudicated delinquent. (Sec. 2)

10. Requires the program to be conducted by the National Guard of Arizona in a paramilitary environment. (Sec. 2)

11. States the goal of the program is to provide knowledge and skills necessary for those enrolled to become productive citizens and obtain general equivalency diplomas. (Sec. 2)

12. Allows the Adjutant General to accept and spend money from lawful public and private sources to administer, operate and support the program. (Sec. 2)

13. Specifies the Governor shall appoint at least two Assistant Adjutants General, including one whose branch of service is the Air Force and the other whose branch is the Army. (Sec. 3)

14. Adds that the Assistant Adjutants General must meet all of the following:

a) Be assigned to the Arizona National Guard and appointed as a general officer;

b) Receive federal recognition of their general officer rank within 24 months after appointment; and

c) At the time of federal recognition be in good standing with current Army or Air Force standards or requirements for military service (Sec. 3)

15. Contains a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, for provisions relating to the appointment of the Adjutant General. (Sec. 5)

16. Contains technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3, 4)

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20.                   SB 1281

21. Initials JH/MB    Page 0 Signed by the Governor

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