ARIZONA STATE SENATE

ZACK DEAN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

DATE:            March 19, 2024

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to H.B. 2580, relating to elected officials

Purpose

Prohibits the imposition of any requirements regarding background checks or psychological testing on any lawfully elected or appointed public officer.

Background

Any person wishing to be an elected officer in Arizona must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Arizona. A person must also be able to speak, write and read the English language to be eligible for any state, county, city, town or precinct office in the State of Arizona, whether elective or appointive. If applicable, a person must also have registered for the selective service system, unless certain exceptions apply (A.R.S. § 38-201).

The Arizona Constitution further requires any member of the Legislature to be: 1) a U.S. citizen; 2) at least 25 years old; 3) a resident of Arizona for at least three years prior to the election; and 4) a resident of the county from which the person is elected for at least one year prior to the election (Ariz. Const. art. 4, pt. 2 § 2).

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

Provisions

1. Prohibits a person, the state or any political subdivision, notwithstanding any other law, from imposing any requirements regarding background checks or psychological testing on any lawfully elected public officer, including persons appointed to an elected public office.

2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.