REFERENCE TITLE: study committee; missing African-American females

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session 2020

HB 2862

Introduced by Representatives Peten: Bolding, Cano, DeGrazia, Fernandez, Friese, Gabaldón, Hernandez D, Lieberman, Pawlik, Powers Hannley, Rodriguez, Salman, Teller

 

AN ACT

 

establishing a study committee on missing and murdered african‑american women and girls.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Study committee on missing and murdered African‑American women and girls; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The study committee on missing and murdered African‑American women and girls is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Six members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.  Not more than three of the members may be from the same political party. The appointed representatives shall select by a majority vote one representative to serve as chairperson of the study committee.

2.  The attorney general or the attorney general's designee.

3.  The director of the department of public safety or the director's designee.

4.  The following members who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives:

(a)  One county attorney and one sheriff from a county with a population of eight hundred fifty thousand persons or more.

(b)  One victim advocate.

(c)  One peace officer who works or has worked specifically on cold cases involving female victims.

(d)  One member who is a representative of the Phoenix police department's vice squad.

(e)  One member who is a representative of the Arizona coalition to end sexual and domestic violence.

(f)  One member who is a representative of the black mother's forum.

(g)  One member who is a representative of a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents and who specializes in the intersection of race, gender and justice.

(h)  One member who is a representative of the governor's task force to end human trafficking.

B.  The study committee shall meet quarterly or more frequently as the chairperson deems necessary.

C.  Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation, but members who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives are eligible for reimbursement of expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

D.  The study committee shall:

1.  Conduct a comprehensive study to determine how this state can reduce and end violence against African‑American women and girls in this state.

2.  Establish methods for tracking and collecting data on violence against African‑American women and girls, including data on missing and murdered African‑American women and girls.

3.  Review policies and practices that impact violence against African‑American women and girls, such as child welfare policies and practices.

4.  Review prosecutorial trends and practices relating to crimes of gender violence against African‑American people.

5.  Gather data on violence against indigenous women and girls in this state.

6.  Determine the number of missing and murdered African‑American women and girls in this state.

7.  Identify barriers to providing more state resources in tracking violence against African‑American women and girls and reducing the incidences of violence.

8.  Propose measures to ensure access to culturally appropriate victim services for African‑American women and girls who have been victims of violence.

9.  Propose legislation to address issues identified by the study committee.

10.  Submit a report regarding the study committee's activities and recommendations for administrative or legislative action on or before November 1, 2021 to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

E.  This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2022.