This bill proposes to amend the definition of "state or local public benefit" in Arizona Revised Statutes by removing the exclusion of benefits provided by public retirement systems and plans of the state. Specifically, it will delete the phrase that currently states these benefits are not included in the definition. Additionally, the bill outlines specific categories of individuals who would be deemed ineligible to receive any state or local public benefit, including those whose presence in the U.S. is unauthorized, foreign nationals paroled into the U.S., and foreign nationals who have indicated an intention to apply for asylum but whose applications have not been positively adjudicated.

The bill will also make a minor adjustment to the section numbering, changing the designation from "I." to "J." while keeping the rest of the current language intact. Overall, if enacted, the bill will broaden the scope of what constitutes a public benefit and clarify eligibility criteria for receiving such benefits.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 1-502
Senate Engrossed Version: 1-502