by Daniel Stefanski | May 9, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to help Arizonans with their “second chance” was recently signed into law.
Last month, Governor Katie Hobbs, signed SB 1367 into law. The bill “modifies statute relating to a petition for review of criminal records for an occupational license” – according to the overview provided by the Arizona House of Representatives.
Senator Shawnna Bolick, the bill’s sponsor, shared some insight into her proposal, writing, “I worked with the Alliance for Safety and Justice to help make Arizona a safer place to live, as well as to help those individuals who are released from prison acclimate successfully back into society and become productive members contributing to their communities. Typically, when people are unable to get a job, secure a place to live, or provide for their families, they have a greater chance of reoffending and often end up back in prison.”
Bolick added, “My bill, SB 1367, was recently signed into law and will create a pathway for folks to get a job quicker after being released by expanding access to occupational licenses for non-serious offenses. This measure was supported by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, which includes thousands of members here in Arizona. This legislation will benefit our state by filling job vacancies, stopping cycles of crime, and improving the safety of our citizens. This is a win for crime victims, as well as for our citizens who are in search of a second chance.”
In March, the Arizona Senate overwhelmingly approved of the legislation with a 24-4 vote (with two members not voting). Later that month, it passed out of the Arizona House of Representatives with a 45-9 vote (with five members not voting and one seat vacant).
After the State House gave a green light to the legislation, the “X” account for the Alliance for Safety and Justice praised Bolick’s leadership on the issue, stating, “We are so grateful to Shawnna Bolick for leading the passage of pro-safety, pro-jobs SB 1367 in AZ today! SB 1367 will: 1. Create a pathway to jobs for those with old records and help them rebuild their lives, 2. Make communities safer, and 3. Strengthen our economy.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Action for Safety And Justice, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Justice Action Network, and State Conference NAACP signed in to support the bill.
SB 1367 will go into effect 90 days after the Arizona Legislature officially concludes its business for the 2024 session.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 1, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
An Arizona Republican State Senator is pushing back against a new regulation from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Last week, Senator Shawnna Bolick added her name to a letter addressed to Members of the U.S. Congress over the SEC’s “radical climate agenda rule that would require most public companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions in order to be listed on American stock exchanges.” The letter was sent by a coalition of leaders under the umbrella of Advancing American Freedom.
On her “X” account, Bolick wrote, “It is always an honor to push back against Biden’s job killing policies.”
The signers of the letter requested legislators to “use all of the legislative powers at your disposal to strike down the SEC’s climate disclosure rule, including defunding the rule via the appropriations process and overturning it through the Congressional Review Act resolution effort being led by Congressman Bill Huizenga and Senator Tim Scott.”
In the letter, the coalition of organization heads highlighted that “American investors are concerned with financial returns and increasing shareholder value, not advancing an ideological climate agenda that stifles American innovation through mountains of paperwork and endless red tape for the American businesses that keep our economy strong.”
They noted that almost two dozen states have challenged the rule from the SEC. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who led one of the lawsuits, said, “Biden’s radical climate mandate is the most outrageous act of overreach we’ve seen from the Securities and Exchange Commission since Biden took office. The SEC is supposed to prevent people from getting ripped off, not force an illegal climate mandate that is far outside of their wheelhouse. His climate mandate will only saddle businesses with costly red tape, threaten our supply chain, and devastate Iowa family farms.”
The Arizona Senate Democrats Caucus “X” account took aim at Bolick’s involvement in the letter, posting, “Just to clarify Senator Bolick, which policy are you pushing back against? Historically low unemployment, under 4% for two full years. Nearly 15 million new jobs added under President Biden. Inflation is down nearly 2/3 from its peak. In 2023, the economy grew 3.1%.”
Additional signers of the letter included leaders from Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Prosperity, Consumers’ Research, American Commitment, 60 Plus Association, National Taxpayers Union, American Energy Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Job Creators Network, and several others.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Mar 27, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A Republican bill to expand protections for vulnerable Arizonans was signed into law.
Last week, Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1436, which was sponsored by Senator Shawnna Bolick.
According to the purpose statement from the chamber, SB 1436 will “add stalking, voyeurism and aggravated assault by way of strangulation or domestic violence to the list of felony offenses that qualify for lifetime injunctions.”
In a comment following the governor’s executive action, Senator Bolick said, “I’m proud to share that our fight to hold accountable criminals who commit sex crimes, particularly when they involve our children, is gaining momentum. My bill, SB 1436, was signed into law this week. It expands ‘Kayleigh’s Law’ to allow victims of stalking, strangulation in domestic violence, and voyeurism to obtain lifetime injunctions against their offenders. ‘Kayleigh’s Law’ took effect in 2022 and allows victims of dangerous crimes to obtain lifetime injunctions against their abusers.”
Kayleigh Kozak wrote on her “X” account, “Thank you Senator Bolick for sponsoring these important amendments to ‘Kayleigh’s Law’!”
Bolick added, “Kayleigh Kozak helped spearhead the measure and has been a strong supporter of other efforts to increase penalties for these crimes, including a ballot referral I sponsored to give voters the opportunity to decide if criminals who engage in child sex trafficking should face life in prison. It targets criminals who engage in child sex trafficking and should face life in prison. It targets offenders who are convicted of a class 2 felony and would block eligibility for any form of release. It officially passed out of the legislature this week and will be on the November ballot.”
SB 1436 passed the Arizona Senate on February 15 with a 26-0 vote (with four members not voting). The bill was given the green light from the Arizona House of Representatives on March 13 with a 51-8 vote (with one member not voting).
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Mar 15, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A measure to strengthen protections for Arizona children is one step closer to state voters.
On Monday, the Arizona State Senate passed SCR 1021, which “statutorily requires an adult who is convicted of a class 2 felony for any child sex trafficking offense to be sentenced to natural life imprisonment” – according to the purpose from the chamber. If approved by both the Arizona House and Senate, the proposal would be decided by state voters in the November General Election.
The ballot referral received bipartisan support with a 20-8 vote (with two members not voting).
Senator Shawnna Bolick, the sponsor of the referral, issued the following statement after her chamber’s positive action: “I am a mother, wife, and protector of our children. Today, my fellow Republican senators and I took a stand to stop child sex trafficking across Arizona. Human trafficking is not specific to any age, race, or gender, and it occurs throughout rural, suburban, and urban areas across our Grand Canyon State. With a wide-open southern border and derelict government agencies, cases of human trafficking are on the rise.”
The Senate Republican Caucus’ press release shared information from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office that “the average age of entry into sex trafficking in Arizona is 14 years old, but there have been numerous cases of children being victimized at a much younger age.”
Back in February, SCR 1021 was given a green light by the Senate Judiciary Committee with a 5-2 vote. Democrat Senator Mitzi Epstein joined all Republicans in sending the referral to the full chamber.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Common Sense Action for America and Center for Arizona Policy indicated their support for the legislation. Representatives from the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, Middle Ground Prison Reform, and Arizona National Organization for Women signed in to oppose the proposal.
Bolick added, “Republican state lawmakers stand united to send a message to those disgusting animals responsible for stealing our children’s innocence – Arizona’s children are our most valuable resource. We would like everyone to know, our children are not for sale. One Arizona child who is victimized is one too many.”
SCR 1021 will now be considered by the Arizona House of Representatives.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 23, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to help young entrepreneurs throughout Arizona is advancing through the state legislature.
Last week, the Arizona Senate approved SB 1370, which was sponsored by Senator Shawnna Bolick. According to the purpose provided by the chamber, the proposal would “prohibit a municipality or county from requiring a license or permit for a business that operates occasionally by a minor or a person who has not graduated from high school, [and] creates a transaction privilege tax (TPT) exemption.”
In a statement, Bolick said, “Asking kids to obtain a food handlers card to set up a lemonade stand is absurd, yet cities across Arizona are requiring this. I don’t agree with saddling our budding innovators with red tape, so I’ve sponsored SB 1370, which would prohibit a municipality or county from requiring a license or permit for a business that operates occasionally by a minor or a person who has not graduated from high school.”
Bolick encouraged Arizonans to listen to the testimony of Aiden, a young entrepreneur who appeared before the Senate Government Committee when the bill was being heard earlier this month. She revealed that “despite his impressive request for support from legislators, all Democrats voted no to helping him and other child entrepreneurs like him.”
The bill passed the Senate with a 16-10 tally, with four members not voting. Senator Brian Fernandez, the lone Democrat co-sponsor of the legislation, did not vote on the measure.
Continuing with her supportive comments for her legislation, Bolick stated, “It’s important that we allow kids to learn how to succeed in life, instead of creating unnecessary barriers against them. Several other states, including liberal Colorado, have passed similar laws.”
Republican State Representatives Michael Carbone and Justin Wilmeth are also co-sponsors of the bill.
On the Request to Speak system for the Arizona Legislature, representatives from the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity Arizona indicated their support for the proposal. A representative from Save Our Schools Arizona signed in opposition to the bill.
SB 1370 now awaits action in the Arizona House of Representatives.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
