Bill > HB2779

This bill modifies two sections of Arizona law regarding juvenile custody and school safety. First, it amends the existing law on taking juveniles into temporary custody by adding a new requirement that if a juvenile is taken into custody on school property, a school employee must immediately notify the juvenile's parents or guardians, after consulting with law enforcement to ensure that notification would not compromise the investigation or pose a risk to the juvenile. The bill also establishes that when a juvenile is taken into temporary custody, they can only be released to their parents, guardian, or the juvenile court. Second, the bill creates a new training program for law enforcement officers and security personnel employed by school districts and charter schools, to be developed collaboratively by the Department of Education and the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. School districts will be required to ensure their law enforcement or security personnel complete this training within one month of starting employment, with a certificate valid for two years. The training program aims to improve school safety and standardize protocols for handling juvenile incidents. The new training program section will become effective on June 30, 2026.