Assigned to GOV                                                                                                     AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

 

 


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1003

 

national guard; counter-drug activities

 

Purpose

 

Allows the Arizona National Guard to conduct counter-drug and demand reduction activities in accordance with the Governor’s Counter-Drug Support Plan and to enter agreements for aerial counter-drug activity and training with the national guard of other states.  Requires out-of-state training and aerial counter-drug activities to be conducted in accordance with the
Governor’s plan.  Requires permission of appropriate tribal authorities for the Arizona National Guard to engage in counter-drug activities on Indian reservation land.

 

Background

 

Adopted in 1992, the National Guard Mutual Assistance Counter-Drug Activities Compact is intended to provide for the mutual assistance and support among the party states in the utilization of the national guard in drug interdiction, counter-drug and demand reduction activities.  Under the compact, the Arizona National Guard can enter into mutual assistance and support agreements with a national guard of another state for activities within or without of Arizona.   Mission 5b of the Arizona National Guard’s policy governing the National Guard Counter-Drug Support Program relating to aerial reconnaissance requires the reconnaissance/observation of airspace or surface areas for illegal drug activities.  However, another policy requires operational counter-drug missions by the Arizona National Guard within the borders of other states to first establish written memoranda of understanding with the other state or provide notice of the intent to cross the state’s borders.  At the present time, no specific authorization exists for the Arizona National Guard to cross state lines while supporting local law enforcement entities’ antidrug activities unless the other state has adopted the compact. 

 

The combination of removing statutory limitations regarding antidrug operations outside of this state and the repeal of the compact would allow the Arizona National Guard to operate in accordance with the Governor’s Counter-Drug Support Plan, an annual plan required by federal law.  The Governor’s annual state plan allows operations to be conducted outside of Arizona pursuant to a memorandum of agreement with the other state only if required by state law.  This legislation, in essence, removes the requirement and allows for aerial counter-drug operations and training in other states.

 

No fiscal impact has been determined for this legislation.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Allows the Arizona National Guard to engage in counter-drug and demand reduction activities in accordance with the Governor’s annual state plan.

2.      Allows the Arizona National Guard to enter into agreements with the national guard of other states to conduct aerial counter-drug operations and training in accordance with the Governor’s Counter-Drug Support Plan.

 

3.      Allows the Arizona National Guard to engage in counter-drug and demand reduction activities on reservation land only after:

 

a.  a request by a law enforcement agency or the Arizona National Guard, and

b.  the permission of tribal authorities.

 

4.      Stipulates that the Arizona National Guard may enter into counter-drug activity agreements with law enforcement entities operating in Arizona.

 

5.      Removes limitation that Arizona National Guard counter-drug and demand reduction activities be conducted in the state.

 

6.      Removes limitation that the Arizona National Guard may enter into mutual assistance and support agreements only for activities within the state.

 

7.      Removes ability of Arizona National Guard to request national guard members to serve as volunteers to conduct drug interdiction activities.

 

8.      Repeals the National Guard Mutual Assistance Counter-Drug Activities Compact.

 

9.      Makes conforming changes.

 

10.  Provides for a general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole

 

1.      Allows the Arizona National Guard to engage in counter-drug and demand reduction activities on reservation land only after:

 

a.  a request by a law enforcement agency or the Arizona National Guard, and

b.  the permission of tribal authorities.

 

2.      Restricts the activities that the Arizona National Guard may conduct, through agreements with the national guard of other states, to training and aerial counter-drug operations.

 

3.      Requires out-of-state training and aerial counter-drug activities to be in accord with the Governor’s annual state plan.

 


Senate Action

 

GOV                1/8/01              DP       6-0-0-0

3rd Read           1/17/01                        28-1-1-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

January 17, 2001