The coming week - legislative edition

As usual, all info gathered from online sources such as the website of the Arizona Legislature, and subject to change without notice.

And given the time of year, unexpected changes should be expected.  :)

- There's a rumor that the House will be doing budget work this week, but I haven't been able to track down anything more.  It may not happen this week, but traditionally, when the calendar turns to April, legislators start pressing leadership for the end of the legislative session.  Expect budget matters to heat up in the next few weeks.

Senate committee agendas can be found here; House committee agendas here.  Check back frequently for revisions.

All floor calendars can be found here.  Generally speaking, calendars are posted the day before they're scheduled for consideration.

All bill proposals can be found here.


On the Senate side of the Capitol -

Rules will meet Monday at 1 p.m in Caucus Room 1.  It serves as a preview of the week's floor action, but other than that, it's a rubber stamp.

Appropriations will meet Tuesday at 2 p.m. in SHR109.  As none of the other committees meet any longer, this one becomes the focus of attention for legislators who are trying to keep a favored proposal alive - either by getting a particular bill assigned to and heard in Appropriations or by getting them to hear a strike-everything amendment, or "striker" to a bill that has been assigned to it.

Right now, Sen. Andy Biggs, the chair of Senate Appropriations, is the most popular man in the Senate building.

On the agenda:

...A striker to HB1254, privatizing all correctional health services and removing a cap on costs from existing statute

...A striker to HB2289, making changes to the qualifications to be, and the authority of, county school superintendents.  Two of the big changes in the measure are taking the power of the county superintendent to make appointments to fill vacancies on local school district governing boards and giving it to the boards themselves, and to reduce the qualifications to be county superintendent by removing the requirement that superintendents hold a teaching certificate to simply being a "qualified elector" in Arizona.

Murphy is running for the Peoria Unified board, and his background is in real estate, not education.

Hmmm... :)

...A striker to HB2341, exempting aircraft sold to foreign governments from taxation

...A striker to HB2362, mandating that the Arizona Department of Education contract with a private insurance provider to offer liability insurance to teachers (currently, most teachers have liability insurance through their school districts or union).  Failed as a stand-alone bill in Senate Education last week, brought back as a striker by Murphy this week.

Hmmm... :)


The Senate's Committee of the Whole, or COW, calendar for Monday is here.


On the House side of the Capitol -

Rules will meet Monday at 1 p.m. in HHR4.  As with Senate Rules, this is a rubber stamp that best serves as a preview of the week's floor activities.

Appropriations will meet Wednesday at 2 p.m. in HHR1.  As with Senate Appropriations, the chair of this committee, Rep. John Kavanagh, is the most popular member of the House, especially with members who are trying to keep their favorite proposals alive.

On the agenda:

...a striker to SB1012 (no text available yet) for "lakes; non-motorized watercraft; rulemaking exemption" - not sure what this one is about

...a striker to SB1116 (no text available yet) for "universities; taxpayer funded programs; restrictions" - don't know what this one is yet, but it's probably really bad (not that I'm a cynic or anything :) )

...a striker to SB1404 (no text available yet) for "civil actions; attorney fees; recovery" - not quite sure, but the subject line is similar to that of dead bill HB2409, which would have barred the award of attorneys' fees to the state, counties, or municipalities in civil actions related to legal actions to enforce or challenge provisions of laws, regulations, or ordinances.


The House's Monday COW calendar is here.


 
The lege's Capitol Events calendar is here.
 
The Arizona Capitol Times' Capitol Calendar is here.  Highlight:  If you've got $250 and a lot of brain cells that you don't mind wasting, the Center for Arizona Theology Policy is holding a fundraising event on Saturday.  The scheduled feature guest is James Dobson.
 
Later...