ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: ELECT DP 6-4-0-0

HB 2121: election pamphlet submittals; identification required

Sponsor:  Representative Kavanagh, LD 23

Committee on Elections

Overview

Adds to the identification requirements for informational and publicity pamphlet submissions for school district override, initiative and bond elections.

History

If the proposed budget of a school district exceeds the limit for the budget year, at least 90 days before the proposed election the governing board must order an override election on the first Tuesday of November. The governing board must publicly announce a deadline for the submittal of arguments to be in the informational pamphlet.  The informational pamphlet includes at least two but no more than ten arguments each for and against the proposed budget increase (A.R.S. § 15-481).

A person filing an initiative petition with the Secretary of State (SOS) may at the same time file with the SOS an argument advocating the measure or constitutional amendment proposed in the petition. No later than 48 days preceding a primary election an individual may file an argument with the SOS advocating or opposing the measure or constitutional amendment that has been proposed in the petition. Each filed argument must contain the sworn statement of each person sponsoring it (A.R.S. § 19-124).

The governing body or board of a political subdivision must, at least 35 days before the bond election, mail an informational pamphlet to every household containing a registered voter. The pamphlet must include arguments for and against the authorization of one or more of the bond propositions. The governing body or board shall publicly set a deadline for the submission of arguments for and against one or more of the bond propositions (A.R.S. § 35-454).

Provisions

1.    ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteRequires arguments submitted for a school district override election informational pamphlet be provided with a signed, notarized statement by those in favor or in opposition of the argument. (Sec. 1)

2.    Asserts that each argument filed for a bond election informational pamphlet contain the sworn, notarized statement of the person submitting it. (Sec. 3)

3.    Prescribes that the names of individuals or entities submitting written arguments for an upcoming initiative or bond election shall be included in the publicity or informational pamphlet. (Sec. 2, 3)

4.    Specifies that arguments submitted by an organization for a school district override election or a bond election must feature a sworn, notarized statement by two executive officers of the organization. (Sec. 1, 3)

5.    Stipulates that if the arguments are submitted by a political committee for a school district override election or a bond election, it shall feature a sworn, notarized statement by the chairperson or treasurer of the committee. (Sec. 1, 3)

6.    Requires people signing an argument for an upcoming initiative, a school district override or a bond election to identify themselves by providing their residential address and telephone number which may not be included in the pamphlet. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)

7.    States that if a person is not representing an organization or political committee they may choose to appear as "anonymous" in the pamphlet with only the city or town of the resident in the pamphlet. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)

8.    Asserts that any submitted argument not complying with these rules may not be included in the pamphlet. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)

9.    Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)

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13.  Initials SJ/JB                     Caucus & COW

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