Adopted 1
HB2700
Technology First Study Committee Act
In one sentence
This law creates a new committee to study assistive technology issues and recommend ways to better serve people with disabilities in Arizona.
What it does
- Establishes the Technology First Study Committee made up of members from state agencies, universities, advocacy groups, and individuals who use assistive technology or are parent advocates.
- Requires the committee to meet twice each year at times chosen by the members.
- Directs the committee to study specific issues related to assistive technology, analyze new technologies, identify potential changes, and find ways to better serve people with needs in this area.
- Mandates that the committee submit a final report on its work and recommendations to state leaders by October 1, 2027.
- Sets an end date of October 1, 2027, after which the committee is dissolved.
Who it affects
- Members appointed from Arizona state agencies including Economic Security and Education.
- Representatives from Northern Arizona University's Institute for Human Development and the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities.
- Advocates, parent groups, individuals who use assistive technology, and representatives from disability rights organizations.
- State leaders including the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, and Secretary of State.
Limits and unknowns
- Committee members do not receive payment, though some specific representatives may get money back for travel or other costs.
- This bill does not provide new funding from the state General Fund to pay for these activities.
- The specific recommendations in the final report are unknown until the committee completes its study by 2027.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Assistive Technology
- Any item or equipment used to help a person with a disability increase, maintain, or improve their functional capabilities in areas like communication, mobility, vision, hearing, self-care, and cognition.
- Technology First Study Committee
- The new group created by this law to research assistive technology issues and make recommendations for systemic changes.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
HB2700 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet Assigned to ATT�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� FOR COMMITTEE ARIZONA STATE SENATE Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2700 technology study committee; assistive technology Purpose Establishes the Technology First Study Committee (Study Committee) and outlines membership, duties and reporting requirements. Background Assistive technology is designed to help maintain or improve a disabled individual's functioning related to cognition, communication, hearing, mobility, self-care and vision. Assistive technology benefits people of all ages and those who are diagnosed with long-term health conditions ( WHO ). Assistive technology device means any item, piece of equipment or product system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of a person with a disability ( 34 C.F.R. � 300.5 ). There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation. Provisions 1. Establishes the Study Committee consisting of the following members that have knowledge in assistive technology: a) two members that represent the Department of Economic Security, one that represents the Division of Developmental Disabilities and one that represents the Vocational Rehabilitation Community Program who are appointed by the President of the Senate; b) one member of the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council who is appointed by the President of the Senate; c) one member of the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council who is appointed by the President of the Senate; d) one member that represents the Arizona Department of Education who is appointed by the President of the Senate; e) one member that represents the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System who is appointed by the President of the Senate; f) one member that represents Northern Arizona University's Institute for Human Development who is appointed by the President of the Senate; g) one member that represents the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities who is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; h) one member that represents the Arizona Assistive Technology Access Program who is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; i) one member that represents disability rights Arizona who is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; j) two members that represent use assistive technology who are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; k) two members that represent parent advocate groups who are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and l) one member that represents the Delegation for Developmental Disability Advocacy who is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 2. Requires the Study Committee to meet two times per year at dates and times to be decided by the Study Committee. 3. Specifies that Study Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation. 4. Specifies that the Study Committee members that represent disability rights for Arizona, assistive technology, parent advocate groups or the Delegation for Developmental Disability Advocacy are eligible for reimbursement of expenses as prescribed. 5. Requires the Study Committee to: a) study and address specific issues related to assistive technology, including technology first initiatives; b) analyze emerging assistive technologies; c) identify potential changes in assistive technologies; and d) analyze how to better serve individuals with assistive technology needs. 6. Requires the Study Committee, by October 1, 2027, to submit a report on the Study Committee's activities and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and provide a copy to the Secretary of State. 7. Repeals the Study Committee on October 1, 2027. 8. Designates this legislation as the Technology First Study Committee Act . 9. Contains a statement of legislative intent. 10. Becomes effective on the general effective date. House Action ST������������������� 1/28/26����� DPA��� 8-0-0-1 3 rd Read��������� 3/5/26������������������� 36-14-9-0-1 Prepared by Senate Research March 20, 2026 LMM/ci
Official activity
Bill history
- Governor signedSenate
- Transmitted to HouseHouse
- Senate third read passedSenate
- Senate committee of the wholeSenate
- Senate minority caucusSenate
- Senate majority caucusSenate
- Senate consent calendarSenate
- Senate second readSenate
- Senate Rules: PFCSenate
- Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology: DPSenate
- Senate first readSenate
- Transmitted to SenateSenate
- House third read passedHouse
- House committee of the wholeHouse
- House minority caucusHouse
- House majority caucusHouse
- House second readHouse
- House Rules: C&PHouse
- House Science & Technology: DPAHouse
- House first readHouse
Changes
Amendments
3 stored
This amendment changes the members of a new study committee on assistive technology and updates its main goal to focus on finding systemic improvements for people with disabilities.
This amendment changes who appoints the members of a new committee studying assistive technology by removing appointments from legislative minority leaders and reassigning those seats to other officials.