ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
flag presentation;
deceased peace officers
Outlines the course of action for a funeral home director, the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) and optionally the Governor regarding a deceased peace officer, including flag presentation to the officer’s next of kin.
Currently, if a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty or while an active member, ceremonial tributes such as presentation of a U.S. flag are managed by the officer’s individual law enforcement agency.
H.B. 2434 provides for two acts of tribute to deceased officers. Under this legislation, the Governor may chose to send a certificate of condolences and gratitude to the officer’s next of kin. Second, this bill requires AZPOST to provide the next of kin with a State flag upon request by the family member. The funeral director who prepares the deceased officer is required to notify AZPOST if so requested by the officer’s next of kin.
There is no known fiscal impact on the state general fund associated with this legislation.
1. Requires a funeral director who prepares a deceased law enforcement officer for burial to inform AZPOST of the death if so requested by the officer’s next of kin.
2. Requires AZPOST to notify the Governor’s Office of the law enforcement officer’s death.
3. Expands the duties of the Governor by providing that the Governor may send a certificate of condolences and gratitude to a deceased officer’s next of kin after receiving notice from AZPOST of the officer’s death.
4. Requires AZPOST, on request of the deceased officer’s next of kin, to provide a State flag to the family member at no cost, regardless of whether the deceased officer was a current or former law enforcement member or died in the course of duty.
5. Allows AZPOST to accept and spend federal monies and private grants, gifts and contributions to purchase a State flag for the kin of a deceased peace officer, but no state general fund monies shall be used.
6. Defines “law enforcement officer” as an Arizona police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff or marshal who has honorably served at least ten years and includes former Arizona officers.
7. Makes conforming changes.
8. Provides for a general effective date.
MVAA 2/14/02 DPA 7-1-0-2-0
RGO 3/19/02 DP 8-0-0-2-0
3rd Read 4/02/02 52-3-5-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
April 12, 2002