Sec 41-1713. Powers and duties of director; authentication of records

A. The director of the department shall:

1. Be the administrative head of the department.

2. Subject to the merit system rules, appoint, suspend, demote, promote or dismiss all other classified employees of the department on the recommendation of their respective division superintendent. The director shall determine and furnish the law enforcement merit system council established by section 41-1830.11 with a table of organization. The superintendent of each division shall serve at the concurrent pleasure of the director and the governor.

3. Except as provided in sections 12-119, 41-1304 and 41-1304.05, employ officers and other personnel as the director deems necessary for the protection and security of the state buildings and grounds in the governmental mall described in section 41-1362, state office buildings in Tucson and persons who are on any of those properties. Department officers may make arrests and issue citations for crimes or traffic offenses and for any violation of a rule adopted under section 41-796. For the purposes of this paragraph, security does not mean security services related to building operation and maintenance functions provided by the department of administration.

4. Make rules necessary for the operation of the department.

5. Annually submit a report of the work of the department to the governor and the legislature, or more often if requested by the governor or the legislature.

6. Appoint a deputy director with the approval of the governor.

7. Adopt an official seal that contains the words "department of public safety" encircling the seal of this state as part of its design.

8. Investigate, on receipt, credible evidence that a licensee or registrant has been arrested for, charged with or convicted of an offense that would preclude the person from holding a license or registration certificate issued pursuant to title 32, chapter 26.

9. Cooperate with the Arizona-Mexico commission in the governor's office and with researchers at universities in this state to collect data and conduct projects in the United States and Mexico on issues that are within the scope of the department's duties and that relate to quality of life, trade and economic development in this state in a manner that will help the Arizona-Mexico commission to assess and enhance the economic competitiveness of this state and of the Arizona-Mexico region.

10. Adopt and administer the breath, blood or other bodily substances test rules pursuant to title 28, chapter 4.

11. Develop procedures to exchange information with the department of transportation for any purpose related to sections 28-1324, 28-1325, 28-1326, 28-1462 and 28-3318.

12. Collaborate with the state forester in presentations to legislative committees on issues associated with wildfire prevention, suppression and emergency management as provided by section 37-622, subsection B.

B. The director may:

1. Issue commissions to officers of the department.

2. Request the cooperation of the utilities, communication media and public and private agencies and any sheriff or other peace officer in any county or municipality, within the limits of their respective jurisdictions when necessary, to aid and assist in the performance of any duty imposed by this chapter.

3. Cooperate with any public or private agency or person to receive or give necessary assistance and may contract for such assistance subject to legislative appropriation controls.

4. Utilize the advice of the board and cooperate with sheriffs, local police and peace officers within the state for the prevention and discovery of crimes, the apprehension of criminals and the promotion of public safety.

5. Acquire in the name of the state, either in fee or lesser estate or interest, all real or any personal property that the director considers necessary for the department's use, by purchase, donation, dedication, exchange or other lawful means. All acquisitions of personal property pursuant to this paragraph shall be made as prescribed in chapter 23 of this title unless otherwise provided by law.

6. Dispose of any property, real or personal, or any right, title or interest in the property, when the director determines that the property is no longer needed or necessary for the department's use. Disposition of personal property shall be as prescribed in chapter 23 of this title. The real property shall be sold by public auction or competitive bidding after notice published in a daily newspaper of general circulation, not less than three times, two weeks before the sale and subject to the approval of the director of the department of administration. When real property is sold, it shall not be sold for less than the appraised value as established by a competent real estate appraiser. Any monies derived from the disposal of real or personal property shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the Arizona highway patrol fund as authorized by section 41-1752, subsection B, paragraph 6.

7. Sell, lend or lease personal property directly to any state, county or local law enforcement agency. Personal property may be sold or leased at a predetermined price without competitive bidding. Any state, county or local law enforcement agency receiving personal property may not resell or lease the property to any person or organization except for educational purposes.

8. Dispose of surplus property by transferring the property to the department of administration for disposition to another state budget unit or political subdivision if the state budget unit or political subdivision is not a law enforcement agency.

9. Lease or rent personal property directly to any state law enforcement officer for the purpose of traffic safety, traffic control or other law enforcement related activity.

10. Sell for one dollar, without public bidding, the department issued handgun or shotgun to a department officer on duty related retirement pursuant to title 38, chapter 5, article 4. Any monies derived from the sale of the handgun or shotgun to the retiring department officer shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the Arizona highway patrol fund as authorized by section 41-1752, subsection B, paragraph 6.

11. Conduct state criminal history records checks for the purpose of updating and verifying the status of current licensees or registrants who have a license or certificate issued pursuant to title 32, chapter 26. The director shall investigate, on receipt, credible evidence that a licensee or registrant has been arrested for, charged with or convicted of an offense that would preclude the person from holding a registration certificate issued pursuant to title 32, chapter 26.

12. Grant a maximum of two thousand eighty hours of industrial injury leave to any sworn department employee who is injured in the course of the employee's duty, any civilian department employee who is injured in the course of performing or assisting in law enforcement or hazardous duties or any civilian department employee who was injured as a sworn department employee rehired after August 9, 2001 and would have been eligible pursuant to this paragraph and whose work-related injury prevents the employee from performing the normal duties of that employee's classification. This industrial injury leave is in addition to any vacation or sick leave earned or granted to the employee and does not affect the employee's eligibility for any other benefits, including workers' compensation. The employee is not eligible for payment pursuant to section 38-615 of industrial injury leave that is granted pursuant to this paragraph. Subject to approval by the law enforcement merit system council, the director shall adopt rules and procedures regarding industrial injury leave hours granted pursuant to this paragraph.

13. Sell at current replacement cost, without public bidding, the department issued badge of authority to an officer of the department on the officer's promotion or separation from the department. Any monies derived from the sale of the badge to an officer shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the department of public safety administration fund to offset replacement costs.

C. The director and any employees of the department that the director designates in writing may use the seal adopted pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 7 of this section to fully authenticate any department records and copies of these records. These authenticated records or authenticated copies of records shall be judicially noticed and shall be received in evidence by the courts of this state without any further proof of their authenticity.