Governor Calls Eighth Special SessionToday Governor Brewer called her eighth special session to join other states in a lawsuit against the federal government over the recently-approved healthcare legislation. Estimates are that Arizona would need to restore $400 million to the recently approved budget package due to the new healthcare requirements. Special session is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. on Monday, March 29.
State Legislature Buzzing Through Bills
With the legislative budget battles mostly over, the Legislature has been able to focus on the bills. Today is the 75th day of the 2nd Regular Session with 1233 bills introduced and 3 bills signed into law. The legislature likely will take another two weeks to hear bills, and allow a couple more weeks after that for conference committees and floor action. April 24 will mark the 100th day of session. This could be a delightfully short session compared to recent regular legislative sessions.
Bills In Committee Next Week
HB 2479: Foreclosure Deeds; Buyer Identification (Rep. Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R–Safford) requires that foreclosure documentation contain a name and contact information for the person at the lender organization who is responsible for the property. This information will assist the City in contacting the appropriate person to address problems that may be associated with a foreclosed home (e.g. graffiti, weeds, broken windows). This bill was passed by the House 59-0 and has been assigned for a hearing in the Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, March 30.
HB 2246: Regulation of Fireworks (Rep. Andy Biggs, R–Gilbert) permits the sale of consumer and display fireworks. This bill is similar to one that was vetoed by Governor Brewer last session. Other than the local preemption from regulating display fireworks, staff is concerned that more people could be physically harmed by these devices and that the state fire marshal, who is tasked to adopt and enforce rules related to the storage of fireworks, is not funded sufficiently to enforce the proposed law. HB 2246 was approved in the House and is scheduled for a hearing in Senate Public Safety and Human Services on Wednesday, 3/31.
HB 2338: Yellow Lights; Duration; Photo Enforcement (Rep. Frank Antenori, R–Tucson) calls for the Arizona Department of Transportation to establish a yellow light duration standard that a community must adopt if it is to operate red light photo radar systems. Federal standards already exist that Phoenix has applied to our traffic signals. Staff is concerned that an unspecified one-size standard will jeopardize the purpose of these photo systems: public safety. HB 2338 was passed in the House by a vote of 36-24 and is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, 3/31.
Source: P.L.A.N.
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