SB1036

THE CONTEXT: Statute prohibits this state and its political subdivisions, including cities, towns, counties, agencies, special taxing districts and persons acting on behalf of a school district, from spending or using the entities resources, which includes all things of value, to influence the outcome of an election. The Attorney General or county attorney is authorized to initiate a suit in the superior court to enforce any alleged violation of the previously mentioned prohibition.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would authorize a resident, in addition to the Attorney General and county attorney, to initiate a suit in superior court to enforce prohibitions relating to the state, a political subdivision of the state, a school district or a special taxing district attempting to unlawfully influence the outcome of an election, specifies that the civil penalties, awarded based off of the violation of statutes relating to unlawfully influencing the outcome of an election, must be paid in an action filed by: a) the Attorney General to the Office of the Attorney General; b) the county attorney to the office of the county treasurer; or c) a resident to the resident, and alters the definition of influencing the outcomes of elections.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give Arizonans and public officials a defined option for public resources under state law. It would authorize a resident, in addition to the Attorney General and county attorney, to initiate a suit in superior court to enforce prohibitions relating to the state, a political subdivision of the state, a school district or a special taxing district attempting to unlawfully influence the outcome of an election, and would also specifies that the civil penalties, awarded based off of the violation of statutes relating to unlawfully influencing the outcome of an election, must be paid in an action filed by: a) the Attorney General to the Office of the Attorney General; b) the county attorney to the office of the county treasurer; or c) a resident to the resident, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.