If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes regarding the filling of vacancies on municipal councils in Arizona. Under the existing law, a council must fill a vacancy by appointment until the next regularly scheduled council election if the vacancy occurs more than thirty days before the nomination petition deadline. The bill would introduce a new requirement that mandates councils to fill such vacancies within sixty calendar days after receiving notice of the vacancy, unless no qualified candidates are available. This change aims to expedite the appointment process and ensure that councils remain fully staffed.

Additionally, the bill would make technical adjustments to the language of the statute, including the removal of certain phrases and the clarification of existing provisions. Specifically, it would clarify that the new appointment timeline does not apply to charter cities and reiterate that appointed members must meet the qualifications established in section 9-232. Overall, these updates are intended to streamline the vacancy appointment process while maintaining the necessary qualifications for council members.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-235
House Engrossed Version: 9-235