AZ SB1235

Expands whistleblower protection ("prohibited personnel practice") provisions to include law enforcement officers of cities and towns, previously limited to state and county employees.

Requires employers to provide law enforcement and probation officers with comparable disciplinary information for officers of similar rank and experience within the previous two years before taking final disciplinary action.

Allows cities and towns with populations under 65,000 and counties with populations under 250,000 to establish interagency agreements for alternate hearing officers in disciplinary appeals, with the requesting officer reimbursing half the additional expenses.

Creates a new privilege protecting communications between critical incident stress management team members and designated persons (law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical providers, and probation officers) from compelled disclosure, with limited exceptions for criminal investigations, clear danger, or express consent.

Modifies the definition of "disciplinary action" for appeal purposes by reducing the suspension threshold from 16 hours to 8 hours, making more suspensions subject to formal hearing procedures.