HB 4129

REFERENCE TITLE: DPS; mental health; wellness;
  appropriation
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HB 4129
Introduced by
Representative
  Blackman
AN
ACT
Amending title 41, chapter 12, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-1738; appropriating monies;
relating to the department of public safety.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 41, chapter 12, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-1738, to read:
START_STATUTE41-1738. Law enforcement officer; mental health and wellness;
confidentiality; policies; annual report; definition
A. Notwithstanding any other law, the
department, in consultation with the Arizona peace officer standards and
training board, shall establish a statewide law enforcement officer mental
health and wellness program that provides access to all of the following to law
enforcement officers in this state:
1. confidential mental health
counseling.
2. Crisis counseling.
3. PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING.
4. Family support counseling.
5. Suicide prevention counseling and
training.
6. Telehealth for law ENFORCEMENT
officers in rural areas.
7. Any other support systems.
B. Any support communication pursuant
to this section shall remain confidential and may not be disclosed to any
individual who was not present at the support counseling session.
C. The department may accept and use
federal monies, grants, gifts, donations and any funding available under the
law enforcement mental health and wellness act of 2017 (P.L. 115�113; 131 STAT.
2276) for the purposes of this section.
D. The department shall establish
WRITTEN policies and procedures for the program. all proceedings, records,
opinions, conclusions and recommendations arising from any aspect of the
program pursuant to this section are confidential and privileged from
disclosure.
E. The LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM must PRIORITIZE providing support to law
enforcement agencies in this state with two hundred or fewer sworn law
enforcement officers.
F. Beginning December 31, 2027 and
each year thereafter, the department shall submit an annual report to the
GOVERNOR, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of
representatives with the number of law enforcement officers in the program and
any RECOMMENDATIONS regarding program improvements.
G. For the PURPOSEs of this section,
"law enforcement agency" means a municipal police department, a
county sheriff's office, a publicly funded law enforcement department and the
department of public safety. END_STATUTE
Sec. 2. Appropriation;
department of public safety; law enforcement officer mental health and wellness
program; exemption
A. The sum of $15,000,000
is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the
department of public safety for the law enforcement officer mental health and
wellness program established pursuant to section 41-1738, Arizona Revised
Statutes, as added by this act.
B. Of the monies
appropriated pursuant to subsection A of this section, $5,000,000 shall be used
to implement the law enforcement officer mental health and wellness program
established by section 41-1738, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by
this act, for law enforcement agencies that have two hundred or fewer sworn law
enforcement officers.
C. The appropriation made
in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section
35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.
Sec. 3. Legislative intent
The
legislature intends to strengthen public safety, reduce officer suicide and
burnout and improve recruitment and retention, while preserving officer privacy
and ensuring fiscal responsibility in this state.