ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
mentally ill; disclosure of
information
Allows
the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to access confidential mental health
records to comply with statutes relating to concealed weapon permits and weapon
background checks.
Pursuant
to Arizona statute, mental health commitment is a cause for revocation of a
concealed weapon permit and is a reason to deny an individual permission to
purchase a weapon. However, information
disclosed in a commitment hearing is confidential and may only be accessed by
specified parties. Currently, DPS is
not one of the parties eligible to receive confidential records.
Since DPS is responsible for
maintaining information related to weapons purchases and permits, the lack of
information can lead to incomplete or inaccurate records at DPS. During 2000, DPS received 126,000 firearms
clearance requests. Concealed weapon
permits are also processed through DPS and are valid for four years. Currently, 61,000 people in Arizona have
concealed weapon permits. S.B. 1108
allows DPS to comply with existing laws relating to weapon permits and weapon
background checks.
There
is no cost to the state general fund associated with the provisions of this
measure.
1. Requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to disclose client records and information, in accordance with DHS rules, to DPS to comply with statutory requirements relating to concealed weapon permits and weapon background checks.
2. Makes technical corrections.
3. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 19, 2001