ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

LIAM MAHER

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

APPROPRIATIONS, TRANSPORTATION & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

APPROPRIATIONS, TRANSPORTATION & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

DATE:            March 27, 2026

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to H.B. 2940, relating to appropriations; school safety program

Purpose

Appropriates $3,450,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2027 to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) for the School Safety Interoperability Fund (Interoperability Fund). Outlines distributions that ADOA may make to county sheriff offices in FY 2027 from the Interoperability Fund. Requires each public school to test the school safety program at least twice annually to ensure functionality.

Background

Statute requires ADOA to distribute Interoperability Fund monies to the sheriffs of a county, city or town police department that establishes a school safety program. Interoperability Fund monies may be used only for a school safety program that: 1) encompasses schools throughout Arizona; 2) enables the deployment of a secure, multimedia data communications system for public safety agencies and public schools; 3) provides a communications solution environment that allows for identification, secure messaging, information sharing and alarm system integration as outlined; 4) is capable of being deployed to end users on existing communication assets; 5) allows each participating entity to maintain real-time communication; 6) encrypts all media communications; 7) is certified under the federal Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act; 8) is compatible with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Interoperable Gateway System for disaster communications; 9) ensures student and staff privacy; and 10) enables integration to school access control to allow remote lockdown by law enforcement (A.R.S. § 41-1733).

            The strike-everything amendment to H.B. 2940 appropriates $3,450,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOA.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $3,450,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOA for the Interoperability Fund.

2. Allows ADOA to distribute Interoperability Fund monies in the following amounts in FY 2027 for continuing operation and maintenance of authorized school safety programs:

a) $275,000 to the Apache County Sheriff's Office;

b) $280,000 to the Gila County Sheriff's Office;

c) $280,000 to the Graham County Sheriff's Office; 

d) $170,000 to the Greenlee County Sheriff's Office;

e) $200,000 to the La Paz County Sheriff's Office;

f) $525,000 to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office;

g) $540,000 to the Navajo County Sheriff's Office;

h) $250,000 to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office;

i) $350,000 to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office; and

j) $600,000 to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

3. Requires each participating public school to test the school safety program at least twice each calendar year to ensure functionality.

4. Makes technical and conforming changes.

5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.