Senate passes bill creating external oversight for Arizona Rangers

The Arizona Senate passed Senate Bill 10-71 on March 23, advancing language described on the floor as establishing an oversight board for the Arizona Rangers and adjusting related statutory sections.

Senator Finchem, explaining his aye vote, said the amendment expected in the House does not fully repeal the Rangers but instead would "put in place an oversight board external to the Rangers themselves so that we can see meaningful background checks" and "meaningful accountability for training." "Right now, the chief law enforcement officers of the counties...have been very distressed that when they ask for documentation of training, the current leadership of the Arizona Rangers refuses to supply it," Finchem said.

Senator Dunn said she supported oversight and expected amendments in the House, emphasizing that many Rangers are doing good work but that oversight is appropriate.

The clerk recorded the floor vote as reported in the transcript: 17 ayes, 11 nays, and 2 not voting. The Senate instructed the secretary to record the action and transmit the bill to the House for further processing.

Next steps: the bill will be transmitted to the House where Representative Biasucci was cited as having received an amendment to work through in the Transportation Committee, according to comments on the floor.