This bill proposes updates to the current statutes regarding animal control officers, specifically amending section 9-499.04 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The bill maintains the existing requirement that animal control officers be unarmed during their duties, with the exception of a small caliber firearm defined as a rifle or pistol that uses a rimfire cartridge of not more than twenty-two hundredths of an inch. The language clarifying the firearm specifications is refined, replacing "utilizing" and "not to exceed" with "that uses" and "of not more than," respectively.

Additionally, the bill introduces new training requirements for animal control officers. Officers appointed on or after January 1, 2027, must complete a training course within one year of their appointment, while those appointed before this date have eighteen months to complete the training after the bill's effective date. The training must cover topics such as criminal law, arrest laws, search and seizure laws, and animal cruelty investigations, with courses provided by certified instructors from the Arizona peace officer standards and training board and a statewide animal humane organization.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-499.04, 11-1004