Sen. Mark Finchem

Maddy summarySB 1645 expands the Arizona Auditor General's authority to conduct audits of state and local government spending. It requires annual financial audits of state agencies, performance audits of county transportation excise tax spending every five years, and new school district audits to track the percentage of funds spent directly in classrooms. School districts must post this spending data online and report on implementing audit recommendations within two years. The bill also mandates audits for entities receiving taxpayer funds (like counties and cities) to verify compliance with spending rules. These provisions apply directly to state agencies, counties with transportation taxes, and school districts receiving highway user revenue.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HCR 2064) expressing the Arizona Legislature's condolences upon the passing of former state legislator Barbara Leff. It honors her 1996-2006 service representing Paradise Valley, her work on HMO reform and economic development, and her contributions to voter information systems. The resolution extends sympathy to her surviving family members (husband, children, grandchildren) and acknowledges her community leadership. It has no policy impact or legislative effect beyond this expression of respect.

Maddy summarySB 1646 requires Arizona's governor to designate one of five specific elected officials (lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, or superintendent of public instruction) to stay at least 35 miles away from the state capital during major events like the governor's inauguration or State of the State address. The bill directly affects those five state officials by mandating their physical absence from the capital during these events. It establishes a Department of Public Safety protective detail to provide secure housing, transportation, communications, and a formal announcement identifying the official responsible for government continuity during the absence. The law focuses on logistical security arrangements for elected officials' absences, not policy changes or public impacts.

Maddy summarySB 1146 requires Arizona courts to hold periodic review hearings for children in dependency cases at least every six months, as mandated by federal law. It expands who must be notified about these hearings (including foster parents, shelter care facilities, parents, and children over 12) and mandates that the Department of Child Safety (DCS) file a detailed, fact-based report 15 days before each hearing. The report must cover the child’s placement, services provided (including educational needs), progress toward case plan goals, and whether the child remains dependent. The bill also directs courts to prioritize child health/safety, assess parent participation in reunification services for children under three, and consider relative placement options during reviews. This directly affects children in foster care, their families, foster parents, and DCS staff managing dependency cases.

Maddy summarySB 1149 requires Arizona courts to hold periodic review hearings for children in dependency cases at least every six months. It mandates that courts notify specific parties - including foster parents, relatives, the child (if 12+), and the Department of Child Safety - of these hearings and ensures the department provides a detailed report 15 days in advance covering the child's placement, services, progress toward case goals, and dependency status. The bill also requires courts to assess parental compliance with court orders, explore relative placements, and set a permanency hearing within 12 months of removal. This law directly affects children in foster care, their families, foster parents, and child welfare agencies by standardizing review procedures to prioritize the child's safety and timely permanency planning.

Maddy summarySCR 1010 proposes amending Arizona's Constitution to clarify grounds for impeaching state officials. It specifies that governors and most state/judicial officers (excluding certain court justices) can be impeached for "high crimes, misdemeanors, malfeasance in office, or failing to enforce state law." If approved by voters, conviction would require a two-thirds Senate vote and result only in removal from office and disqualification from future state office. The bill is a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval at the next general election, as outlined in Article XXI. It directly affects state officials who could face impeachment proceedings under these defined standards.

Maddy summarySB 1330 gives parents with less than 35% parenting time or no legal decision-making authority the right to request a jury trial in family court cases involving custody or parenting time. The jury must make specific findings about the child's best interests based on existing legal factors and explain their decision. This right takes priority over other civil cases. The bill directly affects parents in contested custody disputes where parenting time or decision-making is limited, creating a new procedural option for those specific situations.

Maddy summarySB 1077 amends Arizona law to specifically criminalize using interactive computer services (like websites or apps) to facilitate, promote, or solicit prostitution involving minors. This provision is added to Section E of the dangerous crimes against children statute, making such online activity a "dangerous crime against children in the first degree." The bill establishes sentencing ranges of 13 to 27 years in prison for first-time offenders and 23 to 37 years for those with prior convictions. It directly affects individuals who use digital platforms to engage in or promote child prostitution, imposing stricter penalties than standard prostitution offenses.

Maddy summarySB 1081 requires that in dependency, adoption, termination of parental rights, or guardianship cases handled by Arizona's Department of Child Safety (DCS), a DCS attorney cannot appear before the same judge if they have represented DCS in the department's five most recent cases before that judge. This rule aims to prevent potential bias or undue influence by rotating attorneys across different judges and courtrooms. The bill's legislative intent emphasizes reducing unnecessary foster care placements and prioritizing biological family preservation as the preferred outcome.

Maddy summarySB 1147 sets procedures for Arizona courts to appoint experts (like psychologists or social workers) in family court cases after a divorce decree is finalized. Courts must either obtain written agreement from both parents or hold a hearing, disclosing the reason for the appointment, costs, and duration upfront. Experts may only be appointed if evidence supports safety concerns, such as criminal records, substance use, violence, or child welfare reports. The bill requires detailed written court orders and gives both parties the right to review evidence and submit their own expert recommendations before hearings.