AZ HB2469

Expands employee fingerprinting requirements to include all current and prospective employees and volunteers, not just probationary sworn firefighters, with fingerprints submitted for state and federal criminal records checks.

Allows fire districts to merge without a public election if both districts unanimously approve or if a district has obtained a merger study or has reached maximum tax rate, eliminating the previous requirement for voter approval in these circumstances.

Requires merger and consolidation information to be posted on affected fire districts' websites in addition to traditional notice methods, including general maps, assessed values, tax impact estimates, and benefits/injuries analysis.

Modifies merger board composition so that when two districts merge, the district with larger net assessed valuation appoints three board members and the smaller district appoints two members, rather than the previous appointment method.

Allows temporarily separate operation of merged or consolidated districts under the new governing body's authority for transition purposes to prevent service delivery interruption during personnel and asset transfers.