By Jose Borrajero
The following material is intended as a starting point for those new to this activity, and as a refresher for those that have been at it for a while.
A. Learning The AZ Legislative Process:
The legislature, at its website, provides two excellent articles, one fairly basic and the other quite detailed.
To access the basic article, go to http://azleg.gov/alisPDFs/hbillaw.pdf
To access the more detailed article, go to:
http://azleg.gov/alisPDFs/BillToLaw.pdf
B. Learning Bill Contents Step-By-Step:
1. Go to the legislature website at www.azleg.gov and enter the bill number on the upper right hand corner of main
page. Press Enter.
2. The next page provides a menu of options. One may get and overview of what is happening with the bill and/or find out its sponsors. But the main objective here is to read the contents of the bill.
3. Click on “Show Versions.” There may be more than one version. Always choose to view the latest version. Some
times a summary of the bill is available, which is helpful in understanding it, but is no substitute for reading the actual bill.
4. Most bills are not new laws, but amendments of existing laws. The language in black is the original, undisturbed
language. The language in red is the language being removed, and the language in blue and all capitals is the
language being added.
C. Expressing Your Opinion:
You may contact legislators directly via fax, phone, or e-mail. The US Mail is too slow to be effective. For a roster that contains contact information and committee assignments, go to:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ymrgc8338dncjs/AZLEG-ROSTER-2016.xls?dl=0
You may also submit testimony at Committee Hearings. For an article on how to do that, go to:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/j93kqzlvdlwlwxb/RTS-Instructions.doc?dl=0
Those who have done the foregoing are better informed than 90% of the general electorate. Do not keep this to yourself. Encourage neighbors, friends and relatives to become better informed and less dependent on hype and rhetoric.