This bill amends Arizona statutes to increase fees and assessments related to traffic violations and court fines. It requires a $9 surcharge on all court-authorized diversion programs, such as defensive driving schools, and adds a $4 penalty assessment to every civil or criminal traffic fine. Additionally, the legislation strengthens the court's ability to address nonpayment by allowing judges to issue arrest warrants or order jail time for willful failure to pay fines, fees, or restitution. The bill also mandates annual reporting on the collection rates of these monetary obligations to state officials.
Arizona's SB 1829 amends probation statutes to prohibit early termination of probation for adults convicted of "dangerous crimes against children" (as defined in §13-705), unless the defendant was under 18 at the time of the offense. The bill directly affects adult offenders convicted of such crimes by requiring them to complete their full probation term without court discretion to shorten it. Key provisions include mandating restitution to victims, requiring a $65 monthly probation fee (funded into the adult probation services account), and adding remote reporting options for probation compliance. The law maintains existing probation rules but specifically restricts early discharge for these serious offenses.
HB 4094 modifies Arizona's prisoner release rules by requiring inmates to achieve an 8th-grade functional literacy level before earning early release credits, affecting inmates who haven't met this standard by their release eligibility date. The bill also expands victim notification rights, mandating that victims receive release notices 15 days in advance and have 20 days to object to early release. Additionally, it establishes a transition program providing up to 90 days of community services (like counseling and job training) for eligible inmates, with strict eligibility criteria excluding those convicted of sexual offenses or violent crimes. The Department of Corrections must annually report recidivism rates and program participation to state leaders.
HB 2771 requires individuals on community supervision (probation) in Arizona to pay a $65 monthly fee unless they demonstrate inability to pay. Seventy percent of these fees fund victim compensation programs, while 30% supports community corrections services. The bill also allows charging probationers for actual costs of drug testing or rehabilitation programs, with collected funds limited to covering those specific program expenses. It directly affects people under probation supervision by creating new financial obligations tied to supervision and treatment services.
HB 2064 creates new criminal offenses for drivers who recklessly cause injury or death to pedestrians defined as "vulnerable" (those using mobility aids, white canes, or service animals due to disabilities). For physical injury, it establishes a class 1 misdemeanor with penalties including a $2,000 minimum fine, 90-day license suspension, and 100 hours of community service at organizations serving blind/visually impaired individuals. For death or serious injury, it classifies the offense as a class 4 felony with a one-year license suspension and 200 hours of community service, plus mandatory traffic survival school. The bill also requires driver education programs to include vulnerable pedestrian awareness training and mandates restitution covering disability-related costs like mobility aid replacements or emotional distress.
HB 2047 modifies Arizona's eviction laws by requiring courts to issue a writ of restitution (a court order for a tenant to vacate) after a tenant is found guilty in an eviction case. It adds that tenants who remain in or return to rental property after being lawfully served with this writ - without the owner's permission - commit third-degree criminal trespass. The bill mandates a five-day waiting period before the writ can be enforced, preventing immediate criminal charges during that time. This directly affects tenants facing eviction and landlords seeking to regain possession, turning continued occupancy after a court order into a criminal offense.
