Sign In
Free Newsletter
Lawmakers whiff as fewer bills pass
Lawmakers saw little success in 2009 when it came to getting legislation approved. Much like the mighty Casey of baseball lore, representatives and senators were sent back to the dugout with little to show for their turn at bat.
Fewer lawmakers may be present for special session
Fewer lawmakers are likely to be present for the special session July 20. About a third of senators and representatives planned to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures summit in Philadelphia City this week, according to the Senate and the House.
‘Arnold v. Sarn’: Helping or hurting?
The lawsuit that led to the creation of the modern behavioral health care system in Maricopa County has created what many experts say is an artificial set of standards that ignores the real needs of patients. But confusion and disagreement over ways to improve the system have delayed the kind of meaningful reform that almost everyone in the health care community recognizes as necessary.
At long last, Allen’s E.R. malpractice bill signed
A four-year battle for Sen. Carolyn Allen came to end with a stroke of the governor's pen. Gov. Jan Brewer on July 13 signed S1018, which raises the burden of proof for medical malpractice lawsuits against emergency room physicians. Allen, a Scottsdale Republican, had tried unsuccessfully for years to get the measure passed, only to see it fail to reach the governor's desk.
Capitol Quotes 6/26
“Do you intend to go through these whole COW columns, or are we at least going to have a potty break?” – Sen. Carolyn Allen, asking a pertinent question on... […]
Allen’s Med-mal bill clears House committee
Supporters of a bill that would make the state’s medical-malpractice laws more stringent gained a victory June 24 during a hearing of the House Health and Human Services Committee. S1018... […]
Legislature passes additional restrictions on abortion
Senators passed two measures June 23 that would put additional restrictions on abortions performed in Arizona and modify the statutory definition of partial-birth abortion.
Allen’s med-mal reform bill sails through committee
A lawmaker’s four-year struggle to turn a medical malpractice reform bill into law moved one step closer to a successful conclusion June 16 during a hearing of the Senate Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform Committee.
Med-mal reform bill to hit committee today
Members of the Senate Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform Committee will consider a bill on June 17 that would make it more difficult for patients to sue emergency room physicians for negligence.
Guns in restaurants bill fails in Senate; second vote expected
A measure to allow guns in restaurants failed to get enough votes to pass the Senate on June 15. The bill, S1114, failed by a vote of 14-14. It needed 16 votes to pass. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Jack Harper, changed his vote from "yes" to "no" so that he could be on the prevailing side of the vote and, thereby, ask for the legislation to be reconsidered.
Malpractice bill absent from Senate’s health committee hearing
The Senate Healthcare and Medial Liability Reform Committee met June 10 to consider bills for the first time since the start of the legislative session almost five months ago.
Legislature approves tax credit for disabled and foster kids
The Legislature passed a bill May 27 to create a new scholarship program for disabled children and those in foster care - and, with that action, promptly wrapped up the second special session of the year.
