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SB1685 - 572R - I Ver
REFERENCE TITLE:
Arizona Latino affairs; commission.
State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
SB 1685
Introduced by
Senators
Miranda: Alston, Bravo, Diaz, Epstein, Fernandez, Gabald�n, Gonzales,
Hatathlie, Kuby, Ortiz, Sears, Sundareshan;� Representatives Austin,
Connolly, Garcia, Hernandez A, Lopez, M�rquez, Martinez, Pe�a, Rivero, Stahl
Hamilton, Travers
AN
ACT
Amending title 41, chapter 3, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding article 4; relating to boards and commissions.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 41, chapter 3, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding article 4, to read:
ARTICLE 4. ARIZONA COMMISSION
ON LATINO AFFAIRS
START_STATUTE
41-541.
Arizona commission on Latino affairs
A. The Arizona commission on Latino
affairs is established and consists of:
1. the following advisory members
appointed by the governor:
(
a
) A statewide
Latino leader with demonstrated experience and advocacy in support of public
education.
(
b
) A Latino
health expert with professional experience in public health, health equity or
health care delivery serving Latino communities in this state.
(
c
) A licensed
attorney admitted to practice in this state who has demonstrated experience
advocating for the civil rights of Latinos in Arizona.
(
d
) A licensed
social worker or social services professional with demonstrated expertise in
programs primarily serving Latino communities.
(
e
) A Latino
small business owner REPRESENTING southern arizona with at least ten years of
business ownership experience.
(
f
) A LATINO
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER REPRESENTING northern ARIZONA WITH AT LEAST TEN YEARS OF
BUSINESS OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE.
(
g
) A LATINO
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER REPRESENTING central ARIZONA WITH AT LEAST TEN YEARS OF
BUSINESS OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE.
(
h
) The
Executive Director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, or the Executive
Director's designee.
2. nine voting members who are
appointed by the governor, seven of whom are Latino and two of whom are not
Latino.
B. The term of office of each member
appointed pursuant to subsection a, paragraph 2 of this section is three
years. Each member shall hold office until the member's successor is
appointed and qualifies. Appointment to fill a vacancy caused other than by
expiration of a term shall be for the unexpired portion of the term.
C. Members of the commission shall
serve without compensation.
D. The commission shall elect a
chairperson and a vice chairperson from among its members appointed pursuant to
subsection a, paragraph 2 of this section and adopt rules for the conduct of
meetings.� A record shall be kept of all proceedings and transactions.
E. Section 41-2955, subsection
d does not apply to the commission.
F. The commission shall meet at least
quarterly on the second Thursday of the first month of each quarter and may
hold additional meetings on the call of the chairperson. A majority of the
members of the commission appointed pursuant to subsection a, paragraph 2 of
this section constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.� advisory
members may not vote.� Members who fail to attend three consecutive meetings
are deemed to have resigned.
G. The members of the commission
appointed pursuant to subsection a, paragraph 2 of this section shall employ,
subject to chapter 4, article 4 of this title, an executive director of the
commission who may not be a member of the commission. The executive
director is eligible to receive compensation as determined by the commission
from monies available in the Arizona commission on Latino affairs fund
established by section 41-543.� The commission may employ clerical,
professional and technical personnel subject to chapter 4, article 4 of this
title and monies available in the Arizona commission on Latino affairs fund and
shall prescribe their duties and determine their compensation.
END_STATUTE
START_STATUTE
41-542.
Power and duties; information; annual report
A. The commission shall:
1. Assist and support state and
federal agencies in assisting Latinos in this state to develop mutual goals, to
design projects for achieving goals and to implement their projects.
2. Advise the governor on policies,
procedures, legislation and rules that affect the Latino community and that
will enable this state to be responsive to the needs of the Latino community.
3. Assist local Latino community
groups in developing strategies and programs that will expand and enhance the
social, cultural and economic status of the Latino community.
4. Develop, review and recommend to
the governor policies in the areas of health and human services, housing,
education, employment, business formation and development, public
accommodations and contracting and procedures.
5. Serve as a liaison to federal,
state and local agencies to ensure that programs affecting Latinos are
effectively used and that benefits accrue equitably to members of the Latino
community.
6. Work for greater understanding and
improved relationships between Latinos and non-Latinos by creating an
awareness of the legal, social and economic needs of Latinos in this state.
7. Where appropriate, conduct
periodic conferences throughout this state to inform Latinos of the
opportunities available to them through state and private sources, to encourage
them to share their history and culture with other Arizonans, to participate in
the social and political processes of their communities and to learn from
conference participants about their needs and problems.
B. State and local public officers
and employees, on request, shall furnish the commission with information that
it may require for its purposes except information that is not subject to
disclosure pursuant to a provision of law.
C. On or before December 31 of each
year, the commission shall submit a report giving an account of its
proceedings, transactions, findings and recommendations to the governor and the
legislature and may submit the recommendations to the legislature in the form
of proposed legislation.� The commission shall provide a copy of this report to
the secretary of state.
D. The commission may apply for,
accept, receive and spend public and private gifts or grants of money or
property on those terms and conditions as imposed by the donor and to implement
the commission's internal operations.
E. The commission may accept, receive
and spend fees collected at the Arizona Latino town hall to defer expenses for
the Arizona Latino town hall.
END_STATUTE
START_STATUTE
41-543.
Arizona commission on Latino affairs fund; exemption
The Arizona commission on Latino affairs fund is
established consisting of monies received pursuant to section 41-542. The
Arizona commission on Latino affairs shall administer the fund.� The monies in
the Arizona commission on Latino affairs fund are continuously appropriated and
are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of
appropriations.� The state treasurer shall invest and divest all monies in the
fund as provided by section 35-313, and monies earned from investment
shall be credited to the fund.
END_STATUTE
START_STATUTE
41-544.
Latino legislative day
The Arizona commission on Latino affairs shall
annually facilitate a Latino legislative day on the second Thursday of march.
The commission shall invite the legislature, the governor and other elected
officials to pay tribute to the history and culture of Latinos and their
contributions to the prosperity and cultural diversity of the United States.
The commission shall schedule activities and discussions between state and
community leaders on issues affecting Latino communities.
END_STATUTE
Sec. 2.
Initial terms of
members of the Arizona commission on Latino affairs
A. Notwithstanding section
41-541, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, the initial terms
of members of the Arizona commission on Latino affairs who are appointed
pursuant to section 41-541, subsection A, paragraph 2, as added by this
act, are:
1. Three terms ending
January 1, 2028.
2. Three terms ending
January 1, 2029.
3. Three terms ending
January 1, 2030.
B. The governor shall make
all subsequent appointments as prescribed by statute.