By Daniel Stefanksi |

A bill to help prepare the State of Arizona for international conflict and chaos may be close to the Governor’s Office for her decision.

In the recent Arizona Senate Republicans’ newsletter, Senator Frank Carroll discussed his bill, SB 1638, which would “require the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA), to the extent possible, to: 1) identify any threats posed to Arizona in the event of a Pacific conflict; 2) complete a comprehensive risk assessment, including all vulnerabilities and recommendations for emergency response strategies for outlined areas; and 3) provide mitigation strategies and suggestions to limit or eliminate the risk posed to critical infrastructure and other assets as well as the safety and security of Arizona or the United States” – according to the purpose statement from the state Senate.

Carroll said, “A bipartisan bill to help ensure our state is prepared in the event of a future conflict overseas is making its way through the Legislature. I sponsored SB 1638 to require the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) to identify any threats posed to the state of Arizona in the event of a Pacific conflict. This bill will also require DEMA to provide a comprehensive risk assessment that includes vulnerabilities and recommendations for emergency response strategies in areas like critical infrastructure, state cybersecurity, public health, and safety and security.”

The west valley Republican lawmaker added, “China is strategically pursuing control over the Pacific, which includes our allies like Taiwan, in order to better position themselves to take down the United States. Their actions are a direct threat to our safety and freedoms as Americans, and we need to ensure we are informed and prepared to protect our state’s citizens. SB 1638 will head back to the Senate for a final vote before heading to the Governor for signature.”

After the bill was changed in the Arizona House of Representatives with a strike everything amendment, it overwhelmingly passed with a bipartisan majority – 45-15 on June 4. The Arizona Senate will have to concur with the new version of the bill before sending the legislation to the Governor’s Office.

Before the House resurrected this policy in SB 1638, Carroll’s proposal previously resided in SB 1338, which was defeated by the state Senate in March with a 12-16 result. Carroll pointed to an article in April as proof that the state needed to enact his bill, which had been transferred to SB 1638 at that point.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.