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HB 2779

Relating to juries.

2025 Regular Session

HB 2779 enhances protections by requiring immediate parental notification when custody occurs on school property and adds mandatory school safety law enforcement training and certi

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 2779

Summary — HB 2779 (Arizona, 57th Legislature, 2025)

Note: Although the header in the request lists “Relating to juries,” the enacted text of HB 2779 amends juvenile custody law (A.R.S. § 8‑303) and adds a new school law enforcement training requirement (A.R.S. § 15‑249.08). This summary reflects the bill language as chaptered.

Main purpose

HB 2779 (Chapter 220) revises how juveniles taken into temporary custody are handled—adding parental notification and related protections when custody occurs on school property—and requires a statewide training program and certification for law enforcement and security personnel employed by school districts and certain charter schools.

Key provisions

  1. Amendments to A.R.S. § 8‑303 (juvenile temporary custody)

    • Peace officers must advise juveniles of their juvenile Miranda rights before questioning and make a good‑faith effort to notify the juvenile’s parents, guardian, or custodian as soon as practicable, unless notification would pose a risk to the juvenile.
    • After the custody notification, officers must also advise the juvenile’s parents/guardians of the juvenile’s Miranda rights.
    • If the juvenile is a ward of the state, the officer must notify the Department of Child Safety (DCS), which must notify the applicable public defender, guardian ad litem, or court‑appointed special advocate.
    • New, specific school‑property requirement: if a juvenile is taken into custody on school property, a school employee—after consulting with the investigating law‑enforcement agency to ensure notification would not pose a risk to the juvenile or the investigation—must immediately notify the juvenile’s parents/guardian/custodian. If the juvenile is a ward of the state, the school employee must notify DCS (which will notify counsel/advocates).
    • Existing prohibitions remain: juveniles cannot be detained where adults are held (except as provided elsewhere), and interference with taking a juvenile into custody is a class 2 misdemeanor.
    • “School” is defined by reference to A.R.S. § 15‑101.

  2. Addition of A.R.S. § 15‑249.08 (training & certification)

    • The Arizona Department of Education (ADE), in collaboration with the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZ POST) Board, must establish a training program for law enforcement officers and security personnel employed by school districts or charter schools.
    • ADE will issue certificates of completion to individuals who finish the program.
    • Each school district must require its law enforcement officers or security personnel (including third‑party contractors) to complete the training within one month of starting work. Individuals who completed the program within two years prior may submit a valid certificate in lieu of retraining.
    • A school district may terminate an employee or contractor who fails to complete the required training. Charter schools may opt in to require the training.
    • Definitions clarify covered personnel (peace officers, school resource officers, school safety officers) and exclude certain assignments (e.g., officers assigned under the school safety program at §15‑154 or off‑duty security detail under specified conditions).

Who is affected

  • Juveniles taken into temporary custody, their parents/guardians/custodians
  • Peace officers and school resource/safety officers interacting with juveniles
  • School employees who must notify families in custody incidents on campus
  • Department of Child Safety, public defenders, guardians ad litem, court‑appointed special advocates
  • School districts and charter schools (administrative compliance, training, personnel decisions)
  • Arizona Department of Education and AZ POST (program development and implementation)

Timeline and procedural status

  • Chaptered as Chapter 220; approved by the Governor (dated June 10, 2025).
  • New training section (A.R.S. § 15‑249.08) is effective from and after June 30, 2026.
  • Provisions amending A.R.S. § 8‑303 appear in the chaptered act and are effective upon enactment (see chaptering date).

Potential impacts

  • Strengthens parental notification and procedural protection for juveniles, especially when custody occurs at school.
  • Imposes a new training/certification requirement and compliance obligations on school districts and ADE/AZ POST; possible staffing/contractor consequences for noncompliance.
  • May increase coordination between schools and law enforcement to balance timely notification with safety and investigation concerns.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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