Here is a sampling of other notable bills and resolutions introduced so far in the 2014 legislative session:
HB2192: Unlawful use; public resources; offense
Sponsor: Rep. Carl Seel
Establishes the crime of unlawful use of public resources for a person not lawfully present in Arizona who “uses any public resource” (defined as driving on a public road, accepting any public benefit, attending a public school or using the services of any public entity). A violation is a class 1 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation is a class 6 felony.
HB2163: Limited liability; space flight activities
Sponsor: Rep. Ethan Orr
A “space flight entity” is not liable to any person for a space flight participant’s injury that arises out of space flight activities if the participant signs a liability release agreement.
HB2359: Teenage drivers; communication devices prohibited
Sponsor: Rep. Karen Fann
For the first six months that a class G driver’s licensee holds the license, the licensee is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless communication device for any reason, except during an emergency in which stopping the vehicle is impossible or will create an additional hazard. Effective July 1, 2015.
HB2466: Legislative session; adjournment
Sponsor: Rep. J.D. Mesnard
The Legislature is required to adjourn sine die each regular session by May 1 of each year.
HB 2476: Labor organizations; withholding of wages
Sponsor: Rep. Adam Kwasman
The state, counties, municipalities, school districts and other political subdivisions are prohibited from diverting any portion of an employee’s wages to pay for labor organization dues unless the employer has a prior written authorization from the employee dated in the same tax year as the date of withholding.
HCR2016: Ratification; Equal Rights Amendment
Sponsor: Rep. Victoria Steele
Recommends ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The secretary of state is directed to transmit copies of this resolution to the president of the U.S. Senate and the speaker of the U.S. House.
CR2023: Citizens Clean Elections Act; repeal
Sponsor: Rep. J.D. Mesnard
The 2014 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to repeal the Citizens Clean Elections Act.
HCR2012: Legislature; 60 House districts
Sponsor: Rep. T.J. Shope
The 2014 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to require each state Senate district to consist of exactly two entire state House districts that are separate from one another and contained completely in that Senate district. One member of the House of Representatives will be elected from each of 60 House districts, instead of two members from each of 30 districts.
HCM2004: Native American Women Veterans Highway
Sponsor: Rep. Jamescita Peshlakai
The Legislature urges the Department of Transportation to designate the portion of U.S. Route 160 from the New Mexico state line to the junction of U.S. Route 89 as the “Native American Women Veterans Highway.” Peshlakai also is sponsoring bills recommending the creation of a Native American Veterans Highway and a Navajo Code Talker trail in northern Arizona.
HB2344: U.S. Senate candidates; legislative nomination
Sponsor: Rep. Brenda Barton
Any person qualified to serve as a U.S. senator and who has not been nominated by a political party may be nominated by filing a petition with the presiding officers of the state House of Representatives and Senate signed by at least 20 percent of the members of the Legislature. Within 30 days after the petition is filed, a Committee of the Whole in each chamber must vote on each candidate and the one receiving the most votes must be printed on the ballot.
HB2339: Firearms; permit holders; public places
Sponsor: Rep. Brenda Barton
It is not misconduct involving weapons by carrying a deadly weapon at a public establishment or event if the person possesses a valid concealed weapons permit. This does not apply to public establishments or events that have security personnel and electronic weapons screening devices and that require each person carrying a deadly weapon to leave it in possession of the security personnel.
HB2251: Stand your ground study committee
Sponsor: Rep. Martin Quezada
Establishes a 15-member Stand Your Ground Study Committee to research and report on various items related to not having a duty to retreat before threatening or using deadly force.
HB2260: Small business bill of rights
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Forese
Each state agency that conducts audits, inspections or other regulatory enforcement actions is required to create and post a small business bill of rights including specified information.
HB2238: ADE; Appropriation; geographic literacy
Sponsor: Rep. Lela Alston
Appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to the Department of Education to issue a grant to a statewide geographic alliance to strengthen geographic literacy in Arizona.
HB2235: Labor; rest periods; meal breaks
Sponsor: Rep. Jonathan Larkin
Employers must allow each employee to take a
30-minute meal break during every continuous eight hours of work. Employers must allow employees a 10-minute rest break during each four hours of work.
HB2213: School class size reduction grants.
Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Sherwood
The state Board of Education is required to establish a class size reduction and teacher retention program to reduce class sizes to between 15 and 22 students per classroom in grades K-3 in participating school districts. Beginning in FY2016-17,
$1 million is appropriated from the general fund each year to the Department of Education to distribute in the form of grants to school districts selected to participate in the program.
HB2217: Animal abuser registration; registry
Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Sherwood
An adult who has been convicted of cruelty to animals or other related offenses must register with the county sheriff within
10 days after the conviction or after entering and remaining in that county. The Department of Public Safety is required to maintain a central animal abuser registry with the names and registration information of every person required to register.
SB1097: Silver alert notification system
Sponsor: Sen. Gail Griffin
The Department of Public Safety is required to establish the silver alert notification system as a quick response system designed to issue and coordinate alerts following the report of a missing person who is 65 year of age or older under specified conditions.
SB1098: Office of Film & Media
Sponsor: Sen. Carlyle Begay
Establishes the Governor’s Office of Film and Media to promote film and media production in Arizona, and requires the governor to appoint a director of the office. Appropriates $612,500 from the general fund to the office.