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Each legislative session AWPC selects
a limited number of bills to follow in the areas of reproductive
rights and women’s health, violence against women,
and civil rights/affirmative action/other. Based on past
AWPC Policy Council decisions and NWPC resolutions, AWPC
supports or opposes certain legislation. Working in coordination
with the groups noted below, AWPC will provide updates
as key bills reach critical points in the legislative process.
For more frequent/weekly updates and alerts, members are
urged to sign up for such notices from the individual organizations.
For daily tracking of legislative activity or to listen
to live proceedings, go directly to the Arizona State Legislature
online.
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND WOMEN’S
HEALTH
SB 1480 Sexual Assault Victims;
Pregnancy Prevention - In case of sexual assault on female
victim of child-bearing age, health care professional shall
provide patient with information about emergency contraception
and, if requested, provide or administer the contraceptive
medication. Passed Health Committee 6-1 on 2/21; waiting
to be heard in Rules.
AWPC Supports
SB 1485 Rights of Conscience & HB
2541 Health Care; Rights of Conscience - Permits pharmacies,
hospitals, health care professionals and employees/staff
to refuse to provide services associated with contraception,
emergency contraception, sterilization and abortion if they
have moral or religious objects to providing that service.
Waiting to be scheduled for Committee of the Whole (COW)
in the Senate. Amended in COW in House 2/24 to remove "contraception" from
bill. Final vote scheduled for 2/28.
AWPC Opposes
SB 1077 Schools; Sex Education – Requires
school districts with sex education curricula to provide
instruction that is medically accurate. Defeated in K-12
Ed Committee 5-3.
AWPC Supports
For information on these and related bills
and to sign up for action alerts, go to Planned Parenthood
Affiliates of Arizona at http://www.ppaction.org/ppaz/home Includes
both PPSA and PPCNA memos/alerts.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (Domestic
Violence & Sexual Assault)
Funding – The Department
of Economic Security portion of the Governor’s budget
includes an increase in funding for domestic violence services.
AWPC supports the increase in funding.
SB 1040 Sexual Assault of
a Spouse – Raises sexual assault of a spouse to a class
2 felony from a class 6 felony (which could be reduced to
a class 1 misdemeanor), thereby ending the old spousal rape
exemption. Passed the Senate; transmitted to the House.
AWPC Supports
SB 1086 Records Access;
Victims of Violence – Extends to victims of DV or stalking
and persons with orders of protection/injunctions against
harassment the same protection afforded to prosecutors, judges & peace
officers, to have residential address & phone numbers
maintained by county offices be kept confidential, on request.
Passed the Senate; transmitted to the House.
AWPC Supports
HB 2593 Rental Agreements;
Emergency; Tenant Protection – Prohibits rental agreements
from restricting tenant’s or any other person’s
right to call for law enforcement or emergency assistance,
and such agreements cannot impose penalties on tenants who
call for assistance. Passed Commerce 8-0; ready for Rules.
AWPC Supports
To receive weekly alerts on these and related
bills, contact the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence
at dosa@azcadv.org
CIVIL RIGHTS/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/OTHER
AWPC works to promote equality for all women,
which includes human and civil rights. AWPC opposes the Federal
Marriage Amendment, which would deny equal protection, equal
access and fairness to LGBT couples. AWPC also opposes attempts
to ban same-sex marriage, civil unions and domestic partner
benefits by an amendment to the Arizona constitution.
HCM 2005 Marriage Amendment;
One-Man, One-Woman – House Concurrent Memorial asking
Congress to propose an amendment to U.S. Constitution that
provides that marriage consist only of union of a man and
a woman. Passed House 40-19; transmitted to Senate.
AWPC Opposes
HB 2710 Domestic Partnerships;
Responsibilities and Benefits – Would give domestic
partners rights & benefits such as hospital visitation,
insurable interest, community property, second parent adoption,
inheritance & medical decision-maker. Sponsored/co-sponsored
by 23 legislators. Was scheduled for committee hearings on
2/24 & 2/28, but bill pulled by Speaker of the House
Jim Weiers on 2/23.
AWPC Supports
To receive action alerts on these and related
bills, contact the Arizona Human Rights Fund at www.ahrf.org
Issue papers & fact sheets are available from NOW at: www.now.org/issues/marriage
Clean Elections Legislation - AWPC supported
the passage of the Citizens Clean Elections Act that provides
public campaign funds to candidates running for state office.
This session there are over a dozen bills dealing with Clean
Elections. AWPC opposes legislation seeking to reduce or
eliminate its funding or to repeal the act completely. AWPC
supports legislation seeking to improve its functioning,
for both Clean Election candidates and those not using public
funds.
For a summary of proposed legislation related
to Clean Elections and to receive action alerts on these
bills, contact the Clean Elections Institute at www.azclean.org |
