Laws Become Effective Next Week‏

State Fiscal Footing

While the results of the Third Special Session of the State Legislature should allow state government to function until the end of the year, another special session will likely be needed to address the decline in tax revenues to the State. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) released an estimate last week suggesting that the current fiscal year deficit is approximately $964 million. Additionally, Governor Brewer is still undeterred in her call for a temporary sales tax referral, now shooting for a March 2010 election.

General Effective Date of New Laws

Only 191 bills were enacted from the First Regular Session compared to 315 in 2008 and 296 in 2007. Once the Governor signs a legislative bill, or allows it to become law without her signature, she transmits the document to the Secretary of State who assigns each a chapter number in the session laws of a legislative session. By the authority of the Arizona Constitution, unless an enactment has an Emergency Clause - making it effective immediately - or a delayed enactment date, it becomes law on the General Effective Date, the 91st day after the Legislature adjourns (sine die). The First Regular Session ended on July 1, 2009, making September 30, 2009, the General Effective date.

Here is some legislation that takes effect at the end of September:

SB 1048: Emergency Telecommunication Services; Administrative Costs (Sen. Linda Gray, R - Glendale) - Chapter 112 was signed by the Governor on July 10, 2009. It increases the percentage of Emergency Telecommunications Services Trust Fund revenues that can be used for administrative costs from 3% to 5%. These dollars are needed to maintain operations of the statewide 911 emergency system. This bill was supported by the City of Phoenix and signed by the Governor on July 10, 2009.

HB 2465: Scrap Metal; Theft; Dealers (Rep. Jerry Weiers, R – Glendale) - Chapter 144 was signed by the Governor on July 13, 2009. This enactment adds to the list of prohibited items (manhole covers, catalytic converters, water meters, etc.) that dealers cannot purchase unless authorized, and increases the penalties for those found guilty of scrap metal theft. The bill also requires dealers to electronically submit transaction records to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and make a database of such records accessible to local law enforcement. This bill was supported by the City of Phoenix and signed by the Governor on July 13, 2009.

SB 1403: Renewable; High-Wage Industries Incentive (Sen. Barbara Leff, R – Paradise Valley) - Chapter 96 provides income tax credits and property tax reclassifications for renewable energy operations for tax years 2010 through 2014. This bill was supported by the City of Phoenix and signed by the Governor on July, 10 2009.

SB 1115: Animals; Fighting (Sen. Jonathan Paton, R – Tucson) - Chapter 151 changes the statutes related to dog fighting to include any fight where the intent is for animals to injure each other. The bill also establishes a class 1 misdemeanor for horse tripping.This bill was supported by the City of Phoenix and signed by the Governor on July 13, 2009.

Source: P.L.A.N.