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REFERENCE TITLE: elections; rule of construction |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session 2023
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HB 2319 |
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Introduced by Representatives Kolodin: Bliss, Carter, Chaplik, Heap, Jones, Livingston, Marshall, McGarr, Montenegro, Parker B, Wilmeth, Senator Wadsack
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An Act
amending title 16, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 16-410.01; relating to conduct of elections.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 16, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 16-410.01, to read:
16-410.01. Legislative findings; legislative intent; transparency; effect
The Legislature finds that public confidence in elections is best maintained by maximizing transparency and provides the following rule of construction and declaration of legislative intent for interpreting this chapter and the instructions and procedures manual prescribed by section 16-452:
1. The Legislature declares that the purpose of this Chapter is to provide the people of this state with a transparent system for conducting elections. Therefore, competing interpretations of the provisions of this Chapter shall not be given equal weight. Rather, If there are two competing interpretations, the provisions of this Chapter shall be aggressively construed in favor of the reading that provides greater transparency.
2. The legislature DECLARES that existing court opinions relating to this Chapter do not have precedential force or effect if the opinions conflict with the rule of construction prescribed in PARAGRAPH 1 of this section.