Bill Text: AZ HB2681 | 2016 | Fifty-second Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced


Bill Title: Board of executive clemency; membership.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-05-05 - Introduced in House and read first time [HB2681 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2016-HB2681-Introduced.html

 

 

 

REFERENCE TITLE: board of executive clemency; membership.

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-second Legislature

Second Regular Session

2016

 

 

HB 2681

 

Introduced by

Representatives Velasquez, Mendez: Andrade, Bolding, Clark, Espinoza, Fernandez, Gabaldón, Otondo, Plumlee, Rios, Rivero

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending section 31‑401, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the board of executive clemency.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Section 31-401, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE31-401.  Board of executive clemency; qualifications; appointment; officers; quorum; meeting

A.  The board of executive clemency is established consisting of five the following nine members who are appointed by the governor pursuant to this subsection and section 38‑211:

1.  One mental health expert.

2.  One drug addiction expert.

3.  One prosecutor.

4.  One criminal defense attorney.

5.  One member who is recommended by the director of the state department of corrections.

6.  One victims' rights advocate.

7.  Three public members, not more than two of whom are from the same political party.

B.  The members of the board shall be compensated on an hourly basis and are not eligible for paid leave.  Beginning from and after December 31, 2013, Members of the board are eligible for any benefits that are provided to state employees pursuant to section 38‑651.  A member who is acting as the executive director shall be compensated pursuant to subsection K of this section.  Each member shall be appointed on the basis of broad professional or educational qualifications and experience and shall have demonstrated an interest in the state's correctional program.  No more than two members from the same professional discipline shall be members of the board at the same time.

C.  Each member appointed to the board shall complete a four week four‑week course relating to the duties and activities of the board.  The course shall be designed and administered by the chairman of the board and shall be conducted by the office of the board of executive clemency and the office of the attorney general.  The course shall include training in all statutes that pertain to the board and participation in a decision making decision‑making workshop.

D.  Members shall be appointed for a term of five years to expire on the third Monday in January of the appropriate year.

E.  The governor may remove a member of the board may be removed by the governor for cause.

F.  The governor shall select a member of the board as chairman.  The chairman shall select other officers as are advisable.  The term of the chairman is two years, except that the chairman may be removed as chairman at the pleasure of the governor.  If a board member's term expires while the member is serving as chairman, the chair shall be deemed vacant and a new chairman shall be selected.

G.  The board may adopt rules, not inconsistent with law, as it deems proper for the conduct of its business.  The board may from time to time amend or change the rules and publish and distribute the rules as provided by the administrative procedures act.

H.  The board shall meet at least once a month at the state prison and at other times or places as the board deems necessary.

I.  The presence of three members of the board constitutes a quorum, except that the chairman may designate that the presence of two members of the board constitutes a quorum.

J.  If two members of the board constitute a quorum pursuant to subsection I of this section and the two members do not concur on the action under consideration, the chairman of the board, if the chairman is not one of the members who constituted the quorum and after reviewing the information considered by the two members, shall cast the deciding vote.  If the chairman of the board is one of the two members constituting a quorum at a hearing under subsection I of this section, and there is not concurrence on the action under consideration, the action fails.

K.  The board shall employ an executive director whose compensation shall be determined pursuant to section 38‑611.  The chairman of the board may act as the executive director. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Initial terms of members of the board of executive clemency

A.  Notwithstanding section 31-401, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, the terms of additional members of the board of executive clemency are:

1.  One term ending January 21, 2019.

2.  One term ending January 20, 2020.

3.  One term ending January 18, 2021.

B.  The governor shall make all subsequent appointments as prescribed by statute.

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