A.R.S. § 41-1610.05: Department of veterans' services; veteran identification; anticipated release; confidentiality; annual report; definition

A. Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall make reasonable efforts to identify incarcerated individuals who are veterans in this state.

B. On a monthly basis and to the extent practicable, the state department of corrections shall provide to the department of veterans' services a list of incarcerated individuals who are identified as veterans and who have an anticipated release date within ninety days. The information shared shall be limited to the minimum information necessary to identify the individual and facilitate outreach.

C. Information shared pursuant to subsection B of this section is confidential, is not subject to public disclosure and shall be used solely for the purpose of enabling the department of veterans' services to provide benefits counseling, assist with eligibility determinations and provide information regarding available federal, state or local veterans' benefits and services.

D. The department of veterans' services shall make a reasonable effort to contact individuals identified on the list before the individual's release from incarceration and for a reasonable period following the individual's release from incarceration for the purposes described in this section.

E. The state department of corrections and the department of veterans' services shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to establish procedures for secure data sharing consistent with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws.

F. On or before December 31, 2026 and each year thereafter, the state department of corrections, in coordination with the department of veterans' services, shall submit a report to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives regarding the implementation of this section during the preceding fiscal year. The report must include data on all of the following:

1. The number of currently incarcerated individuals identified as veterans as of June 30 of the preceding fiscal year.

2. The total number of veterans who were anticipated for release from incarceration and who were referred to the department of veterans' services during the preceding fiscal year.

3. The number of veterans who were assisted with initiation, reinstatement or coordination of veterans benefits before or after release from incarceration during the preceding fiscal year.

G. For the purposes of this section, "veteran" has the same meaning prescribed in section 41-601.