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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
candidate signs; prohibition; primary
Purpose
Extends the timeframe that a candidate's political sign or printed materials are prohibited from being removed, altered, defaced or covered before the primary election.
Background
Current statute classifies, as a class 2 misdemeanor, knowingly removing, altering, defacing or covering any political sign or printed materials of any candidate for public office for the period commencing 45 days prior to a primary election and ending 7 days after the general election. Statute exempts the following from liability: 1) the candidate; 2) an authorized agent of the candidate in support of the candidate's election; or 3) the owner or authorized agent of the owner of private property on which signs are placed (A.R.S. § 16-1019). The penalty for a class 2 misdemeanor is up to four months in jail and a fine up to $750 (A.R.S. §§ 13-707 and 13-802).
A
city, town or county is prohibited from removing, altering, defacing or
covering any political sign for the period beginning 60 days prior to a primary
election and ending 15 days after the general election if all the following are
met: 1) the sign is placed in a public right-of-way;
2) the sign supports or opposes a candidate for public office or it supports or
opposes a ballot measure; 3) the sign is not placed in a location that is
hazardous to public safety, obstructs clear vision in the area or interferes
with the Americans with Disabilities Act; 4) the sign has a maximum area of 16
square feet if the sign is located in an area zoned for residential use or a
maximum area of 32 square feet if the sign is located in any other area; and 5)
the sign contains the name and telephone number or website address of the
candidate or campaign committee contact person (A.R.S.
§ 16-1019).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Extends, from 45 days to 75 days, the timeframe that a person is prohibited from knowingly removing, altering, defacing or covering a candidate's political sign or printed materials before the primary election.
2. Extends, from 60 days to 75 days, the timeframe that a city, town or county is prohibited from removing, altering, defacing or covering a political sign before the primary election.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ELECT 2/12/19 DPA 9-0-0-1
3rd Read 2/25/19 47-13-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 5, 2019
JA/AB/kja