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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
peace officer certification; alternative pathway
Purpose
Establishes an alternative pathway for peace officer certification for U.S. veterans and former military police and prescribes requirements for the alternative pathway and eligible applicants.
Background
The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) consists of 13 Board members who serve three-year terms, are appointed by the Governor and includes representatives of law enforcement, state agencies and the public. The AZPOST Board (Board) is responsible for prescribing minimum qualifications for the certification of law enforcement officers in Arizona and minimum courses of training and minimum standards for training facilities for law enforcement officers that must include: 1) courses in responding to and reporting all criminal offenses that are motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability; and 2) prescribed training on the nature of unexplained infant death and the handling of cases involving the unexplained death of an infant (A.R.S. § 41-1822).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Directs the Board to establish, effective January 1, 2027, an alternative pathway for peace officer certification in Arizona for:
a) veterans of the U.S. armed forces who are honorably discharged; and
b) former military police officers or individuals who served in a substantially similar capacity.
2. Requires the alternative pathway for peace officer certification to:
a) accept an applicant's existing military police training and experience toward AZPOST requirements of the state;
b) allow eligible applicants to complete an abbreviated AZPOST Program that focuses on state laws, procedures and community policing requirements; and
c) require applicants to:
i. pass the AZPOST Board-approved certification examination on peace officer procedures and the laws of Arizona; and
ii. maintain all current statutory requirements relating to moral character, medical and psychological fitness and background investigations.
3. Instructs all eligible applicants to submit an application for the alternative pathway for peace officer certification on a Board-prescribed form.
4. Stipulates that the Board must process all applications within 60 days after receiving a completed application.
5. Designates this legislation as the Military Police to Peace Officer Pathway Act.
6. Contains a statement of legislative intent and findings.
7. Makes conforming changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a delayed effective date as noted.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 26, 2026
KJA/ci