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ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1255

lieutenant governor; duties; ballot

Purpose

Establishes the Office of Lieutenant Governor and requires the Lieutenant Governor to serve as the Director of the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA).

Background

The Executive Department consists of the Governor, Secretary of State (SOS), State Treasurer, Attorney General (AG) and Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) who serve four-year terms upon election (Ariz. Const. art. 5 § 1). A candidate for executive office must be at least 25 years of age, have been a citizen of the United States for 10 years and have been a citizen of Arizona for 5 years before election (Ariz. Const. art. 5 § 2).

In the event of the death, resignation, removal or permanent disability to discharge the duties of the Governor, the SOS succeeds to the Office of Governor until a successor is elected. If the SOS was not elected or fails to qualify as Governor, the AG, State Treasurer or SPI, in that order, succeed to the Office of Governor. Any successor to the Office of Governor are entitled to all emoluments, powers and duties of the Governor upon taking office (Ariz. Const. art. 5 § 6).

ADOA supports the business and administrative operations of the state government (ADOA). The Director of ADOA is responsible for the direction, operation and control of ADOA (A.R.S. § 41-701).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires, at least 60 days before the date of a general election, a candidate for Governor to submit to the SOS the name of the person who will be the joint candidate for Lieutenant Governor and whose name will appear on the general election ballot jointly with the candidate for Governor.

2. Establishes the Lieutenant Governor as the Director of ADOA.

3. Directs Legislative Council staff to prepare conforming legislation for consideration in the 56th Legislature, First Regular Session.

4. Conditions the enactment of this legislation on the enactment of S.C.R. 1024, 55th Legislature, Second Regular Session by a vote of the people at the next general election.

5. Makes technical and conforming changes.

6. Applies requirements relating to the Lieutenant Governor to elections for terms of office beginning in 2027.

7. Becomes effective on the general effective date or later, subject to the provisions of the conditional enactment.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 10, 2022

MH/MF/slp