ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
ballot analysis; secretary
of state.
Purpose
Transfers responsibility for
the preparation of ballot proposal analyses from Legislative Council to the
Secretary of State. Requires the
Secretary of State to receive approval from the Attorney General prior to
preparing and filing ballot analyses.
Requires the Secretary of State to provide opportunity for comments at a
public hearing by Legislators and members of the public. Requires the Joint
Legislative Budget Committee staff to propose a fiscal impact summary on each
measure statewide initiative, referendum and measure that appears on the
ballot.
Background
Presently, Legislative
Council is required to produce an analysis of each statewide ballot measure for
inclusion in the election publicity pamphlet within 60 days preceding the
election. Legislative Council consists
of the President of the Senate and six members of the Senate appointed by the
President of the Senate and six members of the House of Representatives
appointed by the Speaker, who serve for terms of two years terminating upon the
convening of the regular session of the Legislature each odd numbered year.
While the exact fiscal
impact of this legislation is unknown, staffing needs would increase for the
Secretary of State in performing this new duty.
Provisions
1. Requires the Secretary of State to prepare election publicity pamphlets and prepare and file an impartial analysis of each ballot proposal.
2. Requires the Secretary of State to receive approval from the Attorney General prior to preparing and filing ballot analyses.
3. Requires the Secretary of State to provide opportunity for comments at a public hearing by Legislators and members of the public.
4. Requires the Director of Legislative Council to provide technical assistance to the Secretary of State in preparing such analyses. Removes requirement that Legislative Council prepare and file with the Secretary of State an analysis of each ballot proposal.
5. Specifies that the Secretary of State hold at least three public meetings on, and the Joint Legislative Budge Committee prepare fiscal impact summaries for, election publicity pamphlets regarding initiatives, referenda and other statewide ballot measures, rather than ballot measures in general.
6. Specifies that a person filing an argument regarding a ballot measure must pay the Secretary of State for the purchase of the paper and the printing of the argument.
7. Makes conforming changes.
8. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments
Adopted by Committee
1. Specifies that the Director of Legislative Council staff, not the Legislative Council, provide technical assistance to the Secretary of State in preparing ballot analyses.
2. Requires the Secretary of State to receive approval from the Attorney General prior to preparing and filing ballot analyses.
3. Requires the Secretary of State to provide opportunity for comments at a public hearing by Legislators and members of the public. Includes members of the public as participants in ballot analyses hearing.
Senate Action
GOV 2/05/01 DPA 4-2-0-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
February 12, 2001