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PHOENIX (AP) - The Republican-led Arizona Legislature is considering a bill to fund a state militia to respond to emergencies and patrol the U.S.-Mexico border.

Gov. Jan Brewer could deploy the armed volunteers using $1.9 million included in the bill making its way through the state Senate. The militia itself was created by law last year.

The Arizona Republic reports the bill has a hearing Tuesday before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 1083 has already passed one committee along mostly party lines. It would provide $500,000 in one-time funding and $1.4 million a year from a gang task force fund.

Senator Sylvia Allen is one of the bill sponsors. She says the added security is needed at the border and plenty of ex-law enforcement officers are available to join the militia.