by Glen Davis

PHOENIX—The Border Security, Federalism and States’ Soveriegnty committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday where Senator Sylvia Allen is expected to submit a strike all amendment to S.B. 1083 to form the Arizona State Guard. The amendment would strike the original S.B. 1083 and create, instead, an Arizona Special Missions Unit.

The Arizona Special Missions Unit would be formed by adding a Chapter 20 to Title 41 of the Arizona Revised Statute entitled State Government. The original bill mixed the Arizona State Guard within Title 26, Military Affairs and Emergency Management.

Because of some technical confusion pointed out by Major General Salazar of the National Guard and concerns of confusion by law enforcement by one of the other Senators, Senator Sylvia Allen changed the bill to ensure a clear separation between the State organization and the National Guard. It also makes clear that they may not act without local law enforcement request.

In an email, Senator Allen wrote, “We must have the ability to organize a highly train special unit who could help with cross border criminal activity. This is a cross between State Guard/Arizona Ranger.”

The missions of the unit and funding are essentially the same, but several key elements make it more like a true militia than the S.B. 1083 bill.
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