REFERENCE TITLE: transgender equality task force

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HB 2652

Introduced by

Representatives Hernandez D: Chávez

AN ACT

Establishing the transgender equality task force.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.  Transgender equality task force; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The transgender equality task force is established consisting of the following members:

1.  The director of the department of insurance and financial institutions or the director's designee.

2.  The director of the department of economic security or the director's designee.

3.  The director of the department of health services or the director's designee.

4.  The superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee.

5.  The executive director of the Arizona board of regents or the executive director's designee.

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

7.  The director of the department of child safety or the director's designee.

8.  The director of the state department of corrections or the director's designee.

9.  The director of the industrial commission of Arizona or the director's designee.

10.  Two members of the public, one of whom is a physician who specializes in transgender health issues and one of whom is a transgender individual.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint these members.

11.  Two members of the public, one of whom is a parent or guardian of a transgender individual and one of whom is an attorney who specializes in transgender rights.  The president of the senate shall appoint these members.

12.  One member of the public who represents a social service agency that provides services and support to transgender individuals and who is appointed by the governor.

B.  Appointed members serve at the pleasure of the person who made the appointment.

C.  Task Force members are not eligible to receive compensation, but public members are eligible for reimbursement of expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

D.  The task force shall assess the legal and societal barriers to equality for transgender individuals in this state and provide recommendations to the legislature and governor on how to ensure equality and improve the lives of transgender individuals in the following areas:

1.  Health care, including access to health care providers that are trained in transgender medical issues, including sexual health.

2.  Long-term care for the chronically ill and senior citizens in the transgender population.

3.  Education.

4.  Higher education.

5.  Housing, including homelessness prevention and reduction for transgender youth and adults.

6.  Employment.

7.  Criminal justice, including raising transgender awareness among law enforcement through training and facilitating the appropriate placement of transgender individual in correctional facilities based on an individual's gender identity.

E.  On or before December 31, 2021, the task force shall submit a report regarding the task force's recommendations 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.

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