Arizona Department Of Education Superintendent Tom Horne | Arizona Dpt. of Education Official Website
HB 2074, a bill sponsored by Representative Matt Gress from Phoenix, was signed into law by Governor Hobbs. The legislation aims to expand the School Safety Program by allowing retired law enforcement officers to serve as school officers. This measure received approval from the legislature in April.
State schools superintendent Tom Horne expressed satisfaction with the new law, stating, “I am very pleased that this bill has become law. There is a need for more armed officers in schools and expanding the pool of available law enforcement professionals to include those who have retired in good standing is a commonsense idea that will put more officers in schools, making campuses safer." He added that "the added training and technology will increase the value of this successful program that makes our students, educators and staff safer on campus.”
Representative Gress highlighted the collaborative effort behind the bill's creation: “Schools must be places where all students, teachers, and staff feel safe. I’m proud that this bill has been signed—crafted through collaboration with educators, certified mental health professionals, law enforcement, legislators, and Superintendent Tom Horne—into law.” He described it as "a major step forward in implementing meaningful, commonsense school safety enhancements."
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