ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: 3^rd Read 28-1-1-0

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SB 1721: appointment; ombudsman-citizens aide

Sponsor: Senator Barto (with permission of committee on Rules), LD 15

Caucus & COW

Overview

Appoints, as session law, a new Ombudsman-Citizens Aide for a term ending July 1, 2027.

History

The Ombudsman-Citizens Aide Selection Committee (Committee) is a nine-member committee that consists of members from the Senate, the House of Representatives, members of the public and members appointed by the Governor.  The Committee meets when a vacancy occurs in the Office of the Ombudsman-Citizens Aide and receives applications and nominates one candidate for the position of Ombudsman-Citizens Aide.  The Committee met on May 26, 2022 to nominate Joanne MacDonnell who must be approved by a roll call vote of two-thirds of the membership of each house of the Legislature (A.R.S. § 41-1373).

The Ombudsman-Citizens Aide must be a resident of Arizona for at least six months, at least 25 years old and have investigatory experience.  In the role as Ombudsman-Citizens Aide, the person is tasked with various duties including:

1) Investigates the administrative acts of agencies;

2) Annually prepares a written report that contains a summary of the office's activities during the previous fiscal year; and

3) Adopts rules that ensure confidential information gathered will not be disclosed (A.R.S. §§ 41-1374, 41-1376).

Provisions

1. Appoints, as session law, Joanne MacDonnell as the Ombudsman-Citizens Aide for a term ending July 1, 2027. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires approval of the appointment by roll call vote of at least two-thirds of the membership of each chamber of the Legislature and approval of the Governor. (Sec. 2)

3. Contains an emergency clause. (Sec. 3)

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7.                   SB 1721

8. Initials SJ  Page 0 Caucus & COW

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