The proposed bill would amend current statutes related to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) by introducing new requirements for advocating on legislation, regulations, or rules. Specifically, it would require the ACC, its staff, or any registered lobbyist representing the ACC to first take a majority vote at a publicly noticed meeting and publish the ACC's position on its website and through the legislative information system before engaging in advocacy. This new language is marked as E... and includes detailed provisions on how the ACC must communicate its stance on legislative matters. Additionally, the bill would empower the Attorney General to investigate any violations of these requirements at the request of legislators, with penalties of $500 for each instance of noncompliance. This enforcement mechanism is outlined in F.... The bill also clarifies that these requirements do not prevent individual commissioners from expressing their personal views, as noted in G.... Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the ACC's lobbying activities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 23-491, 23-491.02, 32-1101, 32-1121, 32-1151, 23-491.16, 32-1122, 33-1002, 32-101, 44-1522, 36-1624.01
House Engrossed Version: 23-491, 23-491.02, 32-1101, 32-1121, 32-1151, 23-491.16, 32-1122, 33-1002, 32-101, 44-1522, 36-1624.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 40-102