HB2233

THE CONTEXT: The Arizona Corporation Commission has the power to prescribe just and reasonable rates and charges for services provided by public service corporations within the state. The Commission may prescribe rules, regulations and orders which govern how public service corporations transact their business.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would prohibit the Commission, its staff and lobbyists from advocating for or against federal or state legislation, regulations or rules before the Commission does the following: a) takes a majority vote at a publicly noticed meeting; and b) publishes the Commission's position on their website and a legislative information system or comparable system used by the Legislature or the Governor's Regulatory Review Council, allow the Attorney General to investigate whether the commission has violated these requirements upon the request of one or more members of the Legislature, and state if the Commission or a Commissioner is in violation of the measure, they are subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each instance of noncompliance.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give the people who rely on the rule clearer information and a defined reporting process. It would prohibit the Commission, its staff and lobbyists from advocating for or against federal or state legislation, regulations or rules before the Commission does the following: a) takes a majority vote at a publicly noticed meeting; and b) publishes the Commission's position on their website and a legislative information system or comparable system used by the Legislature or the Governor's Regulatory Review Council, and would also allow the Attorney General to investigate whether the commission has violated these requirements upon the request of one or more members of the Legislature, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.