ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: APPROP DP 17-0-0-1

HB 2177: appropriation; address confidentiality program fund

Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13

Caucus & COW

Overview

Appropriates $400,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2026 to the Address Confidentiality Program Fund (Fund).

History

The Address Confidentiality Program (Program) allows the Secretary of State (SOS) to establish an alternative public address for victims of domestic violence, stalking or sexual offenses to keep their residence address confidential.

The SOS is required to: 1) assign a substitute address to a Program participant that is used by state and local government entities; 2) receive mail sent to a Program participant at a substitute address and forward that mail to the Program participant; and 3) receive first-class, certified or registered mail on behalf of a Program participant and forward that mail to the participant for no charge. The SOS may arrange to receive and forward other types of mail at the expense of the Program participant (A.R.S. § 41-162).

The SOS administers the Fund to pay for the Program's costs. Fund monies consist of an assessment of $50 imposed on all persons convicted of domestic violence, stalking or certain other sexual offenses. Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing (A.R.S. § 41-169).

The FY 2024 Budget enacted an ongoing footnote specifying the SOS's annual Operating Budget lump sum has $250,000 included for the Program. This $250,000 is included in the Joint Legislative Budget Committee's FY 2026 Baseline Book.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $400,000 from the GF in FY 2026 to the Fund. (Sec. 1)

2. Declares that the Legislature intends that this appropriation be considered ongoing in future years. (Sec. 1)

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