This bill amends Arizona statutes to increase fees and assessments related to traffic violations and court fines. It requires a $9 surcharge on all court-authorized diversion programs, such as defensive driving schools, and adds a $4 penalty assessment to every civil or criminal traffic fine. Additionally, the legislation strengthens the court's ability to address nonpayment by allowing judges to issue arrest warrants or order jail time for willful failure to pay fines, fees, or restitution. The bill also mandates annual reporting on the collection rates of these monetary obligations to state officials.
This bill establishes the 2026-2027 budget for Arizona's Department of Corrections, allocating approximately $1.6 billion to fund state prisons, private prisons, and correctional programs. It mandates that the department submit detailed monthly and annual reports to the legislature regarding spending, staffing levels, bed capacity, and inmate healthcare performance. The legislation also requires that any plans to open or close one hundred or more prison beds be reviewed by the joint legislative budget committee before implementation. Additionally, it sets specific rules for how funds from various correctional funds must be used and transferred to support the department's operations and retirement contributions.
This Arizona bill creates a new transition program that allows eligible inmates to serve up to ninety days in the community before their full release. To qualify, inmates must meet specific criteria, such as having a minimum or medium custody classification, making satisfactory progress in prison programming, and agreeing to provide post-release information, while those convicted of sexual offenses or serious violent crimes are excluded. The program requires private or nonprofit providers to offer services like counseling, job placement, and family reunification, and it mandates that victims be notified and given a chance to object before an inmate can be released early. Additionally, the bill establishes a dedicated fund to cover program costs and requires the state department to submit annual reports on the number of participants, the types of services provided, and recidivism rates.
SB 1847 is the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for Arizona's Department of Corrections, allocating approximately $1.6 billion in state funding to support prisons, community corrections, and inmate healthcare. The bill establishes strict reporting requirements, mandating that the department submit monthly financial updates, annual staffing reports, and detailed bed capacity analyses to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. It also introduces specific financial controls, such as requiring legislative review before spending on certain inmate healthcare contracts and limiting private prison staff stipends to amounts equal to those paid to state employees. Additionally, the legislation directs that all earnings from specific land funds be used solely to support penal institutions and requires the department to prioritize filling in-state prison beds before using out-of-state provisional beds.
This bill appropriates state funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support capital projects across multiple Arizona agencies, including major maintenance for state buildings, highway construction, and the development of a veterans' home facility. It allocates specific amounts to the Department of Administration for building repairs, the Department of Corrections for facility renewal, and the Department of Transportation for statewide highway planning and construction. Additionally, the legislation establishes reporting requirements for the Department of Transportation to provide financial updates on highway expenses and debt obligations to legislative and executive officials. The bill also sets conditions for the veterans' home project, requiring federal funding commitments and site approval before any state money can be spent.
This bill requires the Arizona Department of Corrections to submit an annual report on prison bed capacity to the joint legislative budget committee by November 1 each year. The report must detail available beds for different security levels and genders, explain changes in capacity over the past two years, and justify the removal of permanent beds versus the use of temporary ones. Additionally, the department must disclose plans to vacate beds and seek committee review before opening or closing one hundred or more beds. This legislation directly affects the state correctional system by increasing transparency regarding facility capacity and future bed management plans.
This bill requires the Arizona Department of Corrections to submit an annual report on prison bed capacity to the joint legislative budget committee by November 1 each year. The report must detail the number of available beds for different security levels and genders at both state facilities and private prisons, including data from the previous two years and projections for the current year. It also mandates explanations for why permanent beds are removed instead of temporary ones, along with plans for any future closures of 100 or more beds that must be reviewed before implementation. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor.
SB 1662 (Arizona Revised Statutes §13-901) requires courts to impose probation conditions that are "reasonably necessary" for public safety, rehabilitation, and helping defendants live lawfully - using validated risk assessments to tailor requirements to individual needs. It mandates probation officers to waive unnecessary standard conditions and justify any special condition as the least restrictive option needed to meet these goals. The bill also establishes a $65 monthly probation fee (waivable for indigent individuals) to fund adult probation services, with fees directed to county probation funds. These changes directly affect individuals on probation in Arizona courts by standardizing how conditions are set and funded.
SB 1767 requires Arizona state prisons to fund specific educational programs - including functional literacy, GED preparation, vocational training, and postsecondary courses in industries like healthcare and technology - using a dedicated budget. It prohibits using these funds for inmates sentenced to death, life imprisonment without parole, or classified as maximum custody, but allows programs for minors under 18 and disabled inmates under 22. The bill also explicitly bans policies excluding inmates serving natural life or life without parole from educational or vocational opportunities. These changes apply directly to all Arizona state correctional facilities and their inmate populations.
SB 1709 requires Arizona courts to impose a mandatory $65 monthly fee for adults on probation (unless the court determines they cannot pay), with fees collected to fund adult probation services. It adds provisions allowing remote reporting for probationers to accommodate work, family care, or treatment needs, and establishes a process for transferring probation supervision between counties under specific conditions. The bill also clarifies that probation fees must be paid to county treasurers for the adult probation services fund, not to courts directly. It directly affects individuals placed on probation in Arizona, particularly those in supervised probation programs, by adding this financial obligation and modifying reporting requirements. The bill does not change probation revocation rules for dangerous crimes involving children, as its title suggests, but focuses on administrative and fee-related procedures.
