ARIZONA UPDATE: What happens next? If the investigation concludes that the county may have violated the law, the case is sent to the state Supreme Court on an expedited basis…

SB1487 compels the AZ Attorney General to investigate alleged violations of the law by Arizona counties if a request is made by a member of the state legislature.

The AG then has 30 days to investigate and submit a formal report.

If the investigation concludes that the county has in fact violated state law, the county has 30 days to comply. If, after 30 days, the county has not complied, the state treasurer will withhold funds from the county.

If the investigation concludes that the county may have violated the law, the case is sent to the state Supreme Court on an expedited basis.

SB1487: Violations of state law by counties, cities and towns; attorney general investigation; report; withholding of state shared revenues

“A. AT THE REQUEST OF ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL INVESTIGATE ANY ORDINANCE, REGULATION, ORDER OR OTHER OFFICIAL ACTION ADOPTED OR TAKEN BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY, CITY OR TOWN THAT THE MEMBER ALLEGES VIOLATES STATE LAW OR THE CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA.

B. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL MAKE A WRITTEN REPORT OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE REQUEST AND SHALL PROVIDE A COPY OF THE REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE MEMBER OR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE MAKING THE ORIGINAL REQUEST AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCLUDES THAT THE ORDINANCE, REGULATION, ORDER OR OTHER ACTION UNDER INVESTIGATION:

1. VIOLATES ANY PROVISION OF STATE LAW OR THE CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE COUNTY, CITY OR TOWN, BY CERTIFIED MAIL, OF THE VIOLATION AND SHALL INDICATE THAT THE COUNTY, CITY OR TOWN HAS THIRTY DAYS TO RESOLVE THE VIOLATION.

IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DETERMINES THAT THE COUNTY, CITY OR TOWN HAS FAILED TO RESOLVE THE VIOLATION WITHIN THIRTY DAYS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL:

(a) NOTIFY THE STATE TREASURER WHO SHALL WITHHOLD AND REDISTRIBUTE STATE SHARED MONIES FROM THE COUNTY, CITY OR TOWN AS PROVIDED BY SECTION 42-5029, SUBSECTION L AND FROM THE CITY OR TOWN AS PROVIDED BY SECTION 43-206, SUBSECTION F.

2. MAY VIOLATE A PROVISION OF STATE LAW OR THE CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL FILE A SPECIAL ACTION IN SUPREME COURT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, AND THE SUPREME COURT SHALL GIVE THE ACTION PRECEDENCE OVER ALL OTHER CASES. THE COURT SHALL REQUIRE THE COUNTY, CITY OR TOWN TO POST A BOND EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF STATE SHARED REVENUE PAID TO THE COUNTY, CITY OR TOWN PURSUANT TO SECTION 42-5029 AND 43-206 IN THE PRECEDING SIX MONTHS.”