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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
legislative council; procedures manual
Purpose
Defines Secretary of State (SOS), notwithstanding any other statute, as the Legislative Council for the purpose of the Election Procedures Manual (EPM).
Background
The SOS must create an EPM on the procedures for early voting and voting, and of producing, distributing, collecting, counting, tabulating and storing ballots. The EPM must be issued no later than December 31 of each odd-numbered year immediately preceding the general election. The EPM must be approved by the Governor and Attorney General prior to issuance by October 1 of the year before each general election (A.R.S. § 16-452).
The Legislative Council is a statutory committee that consists of the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and six members from each legislative chamber (A.R.S. § 41-1301). The Legislative Council must: 1) provide bill drafting, research and other services to the Legislature to improve the quality of legislation and ensure full participation by the legislative branch in determining and reviewing policy and the administration of state affairs; and 2) adopt rules and formulate policies for the administration and conduct of the affairs of the Legislative Council. Additionally, the Legislative council, after providing opportunity for comment by all legislators, must prepare and file with the SOS an impartial analysis of the provisions of each ballot proposal, including a description of the measure, which must be written in clear, concise and nontechnical terms (A.R.S. § 19-124 and 41-1304).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Defines SOS, notwithstanding any other statute, as the Legislative Council for the purpose of the EPM.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 2, 2023
AN/CS/slp