HB2365 - 452R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

HB 2365

clean elections; judicial officers

Sponsors: Representatives Sedillo, Loredo, Clark, Camarot et al.

dpa	Committee on Judiciary
x	Committee on Retirement & Government Operations
	Caucus and COW
	Third Read	This bill as introduced contains *a PROP 105 clause.*
	As Passed the House

HB 2365 applies the Citizens’ Clean Elections Act to candidates for justice of the peace in all counties and to candidates for judge of the superior court in all counties in which judges are elected. Proposition 105 applies to this bill and requires an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of each house of the Legislature.

Current Status

HB 2365 passed the Judiciary Committee with an amendment that removes superior court judges from the bill, thus removing their eligibility to participate in elections as Clean Elections candidates, and provides a specific number of required qualifying contributions for justices of the peace to qualify as a Clean Elections candidate.

History

Arizona law provides for judges in counties other than Maricopa and Pima counties and all justices of the peace to be elected to office.

In November 1998, Arizona voters approved the Citizen’s Clean Elections Act, a ballot proposition establishing a system for the public funding of election campaigns for political candidates who voluntarily participate in a system to limit campaign spending and fundraising in statewide and state legislative elections. Currently, only candidates for statewide or legislative office may participate as Clean Elections candidates. Judges and justices of the peace do not fall into either of these categories and therefore may not participate in an election as a Clean Election candidate.

Provisions

· Applies the Citizens’ Clean Elections Act to candidates for justice of the peace in all counties and to candidates to judge of the superior court in all counties in which judges are elected.

· Defines primary election spending limit for a candidate for judge of the superior court as $20,000. For a candidate for justice of the peace, the limit is $5,000.

· Specifies that a candidate for justice of the peace or judge of the superior court must file campaign finance reports with the county officer in charge of elections.

· Contains a Proposition 105 clause that requires an affirmative three-fourths vote in each house of the Legislature.

Amendments

HB 2365 was amended in the Judiciary Committee as follows:

§ Removes superior court judges from judicial officers eligible to participate as Clean Elections candidates.

§ Provides a specific number of required qualifying contributions for a candidate for justice of the peace to qualify as a Clean Elections candidate.

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§ 45th Legislature

§ Second Regular Session 2 March 20, 2002