P.L.A.N. Update - Session is Almost in the Record Books‏

Lots of New Laws

Now that the 49th Legislature's 2nd Regular Session has adjourned, Governor Brewer has until May 11 to act on the measures that were sent to her. Bills that are signed or become law without her signature will take effect on July 29, 2010 unless the bill has an emergency clause or specific enactment date.

During this session 1233 bills were introduced, of which 352 were approved and sent to the Governor. As of now, Governor Brewer has signed 249 bills and vetoed five. When the Governor signs a bill, it is sent to the Secretary of State, who assigns each enactment a chapter number. The chapters are then recorded in the Second Regular Session of the 49th Legislature "session laws." The status of bills can be tracked on the legislature's Web site at http://www.azleg.gov/FinalDisposition.asp.

A Few Bills Of Interest

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, the city 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. This bill was transmitted to the Governor on April 26 and awaiting action at this writing.

HB 2338: Yellow Lights; Duration; Photo Enforcement (Rep. Frank Antenori, R–Tucson) initially would have impacted the use of "red light running" cameras at our intersections. The bill has now been amended to regulate only the timing of the traffic signals. HB 2338 was signed by the Governor on May 5.

SB 1135: Child Custody; Technical Correction (NOW: Aggravated Assault; Classification; Definition) (Rep. Steve Montenegro, R - Litchfield Park) elevates the crime of assaulting a code enforcement officer and state or city park ranger to the current list of aggravated assaults. This bill was signed by the Governor on May 6.

Source: P.L.A.N.