ARIZONA STATE SENATE

KAYTLIN KING

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH INTERN

ZACK DEAN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 6, 2024

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1214, relating to education programs; state agency license requirements; state bar; definition

Purpose

Requires the Arizona Supreme Court (Supreme Court) to allow a member of the Arizona State Bar (Bar) to fulfill a state agency license renewal requirement and earn credit for their annual continuing legal education (CLE) activity requirement through a continuing education program.

Background

The Supreme Court must establish a program of continuing education for justices of the peace and magistrates. The program must include such courses of study as the supreme court deems necessary or desirable (A.R.S. § 12-112).

Every active member of the Bar, not exempted, must complete a minimum of 15 hours of CLE activity in each educational year. An educational year must begin on July 1 and end on the following June 30 (Ariz. R. Sup. Ct., Rule 45).

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

Provisions

1. Requires the Supreme Court to allow a member of the Bar to earn credit towards their annual CLE activity requirement if the member attends a continuing education program to fulfill a state agency license renewal requirement.

2. Stipulates that in order to earn credit for an annual CLE activity requirement the continuing education program must:

a) consist of an organized program of learning;

b) deal with matters directly related to law;

c) follow an agenda; and

d) be accompanied by substantive or practical written materials or exercises.

3. Defines state agency license renewal requirement.

4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.