HB2523 • 2026

prisoners; strip search; pat search

HB2523 - prisoners; strip search; pat search

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, Patty Contreras, Brian Garcia, Nancy Gutierrez, Elda Luna-Nájera, Stephanie Simacek, Betty J Villegas, Kevin Volk, Rosanna Gabaldón, Analise Ortiz
Last action: 2026-01-21
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on when the new rules will be effective or what happens if there's no same-gender officer available in an emergency.

Prisoners; Strip Search and Pat Search Rules

This bill changes how strip searches and pat searches are conducted for prisoners in Arizona.

What This Bill Does

Removes the old rule about strip searches and pat searches for prisoners.
Adds a new rule that says only same-gender correctional officers can perform strip searches, unless there's an emergency.
Requires documentation of cross-gender pat searches during emergencies with details like names, badge numbers, prisoner identification, and reasons.

Who It Names or Affects

Prisoners who are searched by correctional officers.
Correctional officers who perform searches on prisoners.

Terms To Know

Pat search: A quick check of a prisoner's clothing to make sure they don't have anything dangerous, done without removing clothes.
Strip search: A thorough search where prisoners must remove all their clothes to be checked for hidden items or contraband.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when the new rules will start.
It doesn't explain what happens if there's no same-gender officer available during an emergency.

Bill History

2026-01-21 House
House second read
2026-01-20 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-20 House
House Public Safety & Law Enforcement: None
2026-01-20 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2523 - prisoners; strip search; pat search

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2523 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
prisoners; strip search; pat search

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2523

Introduced by

Representatives
Stahl Hamilton: Contreras P, Garcia, Gutierrez, Luna-N�jera, Simacek,
Villegas, Volk;� Senators Gabald�n, Ortiz

AN
ACT

repealing
section 31-236, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 31, chapter 2, article
2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding a new section 31-236; relating to
prisoners.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.
Repeal

Section 31-236, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is repealed.

Sec. 2. Title 31, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section 31-236, to read:

START_STATUTE
31-236.

Prisoners; strip search; pat search; procedures; definition

A. A strip search may be performed
only by a correctional officer who is of the same gender as the prisoner and in
a room that is designated by the warden, deputy warden or prison administrator
for strip searches. If a reason exists for a strip search to be done
immediately, the shift commander or duty officer may authorize the use of a
private area other than the designated strip search room. Except
during an inspection of the hair on a prisoner's head, a correctional officer
may not touch any part of the prisoner's body during a strip search.

B. A pat search may be performed only
by a correctional officer who is of the same gender as the prisoner, except
that in an emergency situation, a correctional officer of the opposite gender
may conduct a pat search if both of the following apply:

1. The following information is
documented in the correctional service log:

(
a
) The name of
the correctional officer who conducts the pat search.

(
b
) The name of
any correctional officer who witnesses the pat search.

(
c
) The
correctional officer's badge number.

(
d
) The
prisoner's name and state department of corrections number.

(
e
) The reason
for the cross gender pat search.

2. When possible, the pat search is
conducted in the presence of at least one additional correctional officer.

C. For the purposes of this section,
"pat search" means a search that is conducted by a correctional
officer who pats down or frisks the body of a clothed prisoner.

END_STATUTE