ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

JAMES F. KEANE

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 542-3171

Facsimile: (602) 542-7833

TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

DATE: March 2, 2001

SUBJECT: Mitchell Strike Everything Amendment to S.B. 1330

Purpose

Establishes, and transfers responsibility for the preparation of ballot proposal analyses from Legislative Council to, the citizen Ballot Measure (CBM) Committee. Requires the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) staff to propose a fiscal impact summary on each 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 impact of this legislation is unknown, responsibilities could increase for Legislative council and JLBC staffs in providing support to the CBM Committee.

Provisions

Citizen Ballot Measure Committee

1. Establishes the CBM committee no later than April 1 of general election years to prepare, with staff and technical assistance provided by Legislative Council, and file impartial ballot analyses.

2. Terminates membership on the CBM Committee on December 1 of general election years.

3. Establishes the following membership of the CBM Committee:

a) two persons appointed by the President of the Senate

b) two persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

c) two persons appointed by the leader of the minority party in the Senate.

d) two persons appointed by the leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives.

4. Requires CBM Committee members to have a demonstrated interest or expertise in one or more areas of public polity addressed in the proposed ballot initiatives or to have demonstrated background in public policy or law.

5. Requires CBM Committee members to elect a chair from its members.

6. Prohibits more than four CBM Committee members from being members from being members of the same political party.

7. Prohibits members of the Legislature, registered lobbyists and officers and members of political committees organized to support or oppose a statewide measure from serving on the CBM Committee.

Legislative Council

8. Requires Legislative Council to prepare and file with the Secretary of State impartial ballot analyses and requires the Secretary of State to publish the Legislative Council analyses if the CBM Committee does not file an analyses of each ballot measure at least 75 days before the primary election.

9. Requires the Director and staff of Legislative Council to provide technical and staff assistance to the CBM Committee and, if required, to Legislative Council in preparing and submitting ballot measure analyses.

10. Removes the general requirement that Legislative Council prepare ballot analyses.

Duties of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Secretary of State

11. Specifies that the Secretary of State must hold at least three public meetings on, and the JLBC staff must prepare fiscal impact summaries for, election publicity pamphlets regarding initiatives, referenda and other statewide ballot measures, rather than ballot measures in general.

12. Increases from 60 to 75 the number of days prior to a primary election that impartial analyses of ballot measures must be filed with the Secretary of State.

13. Specifies that a person filing an argument regarding a ballot measure must pay the Secretary of State for the purchase of paper and printing the argument.

14. Provides for a general effective date.

JFK/ac