Arizona SB 1809: national guard; education; reimbursement

Bill Text

SB1809 - 572R - I Ver 

 REFERENCE TITLE: national guard; education; reimbursement

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 SB 1809

 Introduced by 

 Senator 
 Gowan

AN 
ACT

Amending sections 26-102 and 26-181, 
Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the national guard.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 26-102, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE26-102. Powers and duties of the adjutant general

A. The adjutant general shall serve as head of the department 
and, subject to the orders of the commander in chief, command the national 
guard of this state. The governor as commander in chief shall 
administer and control the national guard, and the adjutant general is 
responsible to the governor for executing all orders relating to the militia, 
organizing, activating, reactivating, inactivating and allocating units, 
recruiting personnel, public relations and disciplining and training the 
national guard and those members of the militia inducted into the service of 
this state as provided in this chapter.� The adjutant general shall act as 
military chief of staff to the governor and as the commanding general of all 
branches of the militia.� The adjutant general may belong to the national 
association and other organizations for the betterment of the national guard, 
subscribe to and obtain periodicals, literature and magazines of such other 
organizations and pay dues and charges from monies of this state appropriated 
for that purpose. Except for the authority expressly reserved for 
the governor, the adjutant general is responsible for emergency management, and 
all emergency activities are subject to the approval of the adjutant general.

B. The adjutant general, as the military chief of 
staff, shall:

1. Act as military advisor to the governor and 
perform, as the governor prescribes, military duties not otherwise designated 
by law.

2. Adopt methods of administration for the national 
guard that are not inconsistent with laws and regulations of the United States 
department of defense or any subdivision of the United States department of 
defense.

3. Supervise and direct the organization, 
regulation, instruction and other activities of the national guard.

4. Attest and record all commissions issued by the 
governor and maintain a register of all commissioned personnel.

5. Keep a record of all orders and regulations 
pertaining to the national guard and all other writings and papers relating to 
reports and returns of units comprising the national guard and militia.

6. Superintend the preparation of returns, plans and 
estimates required by this state, by the department of the army, air force or 
navy and by the United States secretary of defense.

7. Control the use of and care for, preserve and 
maintain all military property belonging to or issued to this state and pay 
from monies appropriated by the legislature for these purposes the necessary 
expenses for labor and material incurred in repairing military property.

8. Dispose of unserviceable military property 
belonging to this state, account for the proceeds and transmit the proceeds to 
the morale, welfare and recreational fund established by section 26-153.

9. Authenticate with the seal of the office of the 
adjutant general all orders and copies of orders issued by the adjutant 
general's office. An authenticated copy has the same force and 
effect as the original.

10. Present to the governor before each regular 
session of the legislature, or as otherwise required, an estimate of the 
financial requirements for state monies for operating the department and the 
national guard during the next fiscal year. 

C. The adjutant general, as head of the department, 
shall:

1. Be the administrator of the department.

2. Coordinate the functions of the divisions and 
offices of the department.

3. Subject to title 41, chapter 4, article 4 and, as 
applicable, article 5, appoint, suspend, demote, promote or dismiss employees 
of the department. The adjutant general may delegate this authority.

4. Appoint an auditor for the department to conduct 
periodic financial and compliance audits of each division and office in the 
department and perform other duties as prescribed by law. At least 
annually the auditor shall audit accounts that are open for more than twelve 
months. The auditor shall determine within the department compliance 
with purchase and bidding procedures prescribed by law.

5. Adopt, with the approval of the governor, rules 
necessary for operating the department and for organizing, governing, arming, 
equipping, instructing and compensating the national guard and authorized 
employees. Rules that are adopted for the national guard and authorized 
employees pursuant to this paragraph shall be in force and effect when approved 
by the governor. 

6. Establish and administe