Committee advances bill shifting $5 million from consumer-protection fund to GITM and allowing DPS outside counsel

The Arizona House Committee on Public Safety and Law Enforcement on Wednesday advanced House Bill 2993, approving an amendment that directs $5,000,000 from the consumer protection/consumer fraud revolving fund to the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund and grants the Department of Public Safety authority to secure legal services independent of the Attorney General.

Sponsor Representative Montenegro told the committee the bill is intended to "restore the focus on real protection, not political posturing," saying recent Attorney General actions amount to "political theatrics endanger[ing] our public safety officers." He described the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team as "a statewide, multi-agency task force" that the appropriation would support.

Opponents called the proposal retaliatory and criticized the choice of funding source. Representative Austin said the bill was also "political posturing" in response to the Attorney General and noted recent consumer-protection work by the Attorney General's office, including a cited $11,800,000 settlement with Choice Home Warranty. Representative Cruz said the consumer protection fund "goes to help everyday Arizonans" and that consumer-relief work — such as actions on for-profit colleges and student loans — justifies retaining the fund for consumer enforcement.

After floor-level debate and member explanations of their votes, the committee recorded a voice vote on the amendment and then a roll-call vote on the bill as amended, yielding a committee recommendation of due pass by a vote of 8 ayes, 6 nays and 1 absent.

The bill as presented (before the amendment) authorized DPS expenditures for legal services independent of the Attorney General and proposed the $5,000,000 appropriation to the Peace Officers Training Fund; the chairman's amendment redirected that appropriation to GITM. Committee discussion made clear the central issues were (1) whether the Legislature should reassign consumer-protection resources to a law-enforcement task force and (2) whether DPS should be able to retain outside counsel separate from the Attorney General's office.

Next steps: With a due-pass recommendation from committee, HB 2993 moves to the next stage of the House process for consideration by the full chamber and any further amendments or floor debate.