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SB1686 - 572R - S Ver
Senate Engrossed
Charlie Kirk; Don
Bolles; memorial
State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
SENATE BILL 1686
AN
ACT
Amending sections 41-608, 41-1304.05,
41-1363 and 41-1862, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to Wesley Bolin Plaza.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 41-608, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE
41-608.
Veterans' donations fund; transfer; grants
A. The veterans' donations fund is established
consisting of monies, gifts and contributions donated to the department and
monies deposited pursuant to sections 28-2414, 28-2428, 28-2431,
28-2447, 28-2454, 28-2470.10, 28-2473, 28-2474,
28-2475, 28-2476 and 43-620. The department shall
administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously
appropriated.� The monies in the fund are exempt from the provisions of section
35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. The department
shall annually transfer fifteen percent of all revenues received by the
department that are deposited in the veterans' donations fund pursuant to this
section to the subaccount established pursuant to section 41-608.01 in the
state homes for veterans trust fund. The department shall adopt
rules or policies for grants of less than $5,000 that encourage as much
competition as practicable.
B. The director or the director's designee may
solicit and receive donations, including in-kind donations, from the
public for veterans. The director shall deposit, pursuant to
sections 35-146 and 35-147, the monetary donations in the veterans'
donations fund.� Monies in the fund are subject to state auditing procedures.�
Except for monies deposited pursuant to sections 28-2431 and 28-2447,
the donations may be used for the benefit of the veterans within this state as
grants, subject to chapter 24 of this title, if applicable.
C. The director shall establish a separate
subaccount in the veterans' donations fund for the deposit of monies received
pursuant to section 28-2431, subsection C. The monies in the
subaccount shall be used for the construction and maintenance of the enduring
freedom memorial authorized pursuant to section 41-1363 for placement in
the
Wesley Bolin
and charlie kirk freedom
Plaza.
D. The director shall establish a separate
subaccount in the veterans' donations fund for the deposit of monies received
pursuant to section 28-2447, subsection F.� The monies in the subaccount
shall be used for the benefit of women veterans in this state, including
providing shelter to homeless women veterans as grants, subject to chapter 24
of this title, if applicable.
E. The director shall establish a separate
subaccount in the veterans' donations fund for the deposit of monies received
pursuant to section 28-2454, subsection C. The first $32,000
in the subaccount shall be reimbursed to the person that provides the $32,000
pursuant to section 28-2454, subsection A. The director shall
annually allocate monies from the subaccount to a foundation that is qualified
under section 501(c)(3) of the United States internal revenue code for federal
income tax purposes and that is the nation's oldest and largest provider of
need-based scholarships to children of United States military
members. The foundation must:
1. Have been in existence for at least fifty-two
years.
2. Have provided more than thirty-three thousand
scholarships that are valued at almost $90,000,000.
3. Have a mission that includes honoring marines and
educating their children.
4. Award scholarship monies to children of marines
and navy corpsmen who were killed or wounded in combat or who have demonstrated
financial need.
F. The director shall establish a separate
subaccount in the veterans' donations fund for the deposit of monies received
pursuant to section 28-2470.10, subsection C. The first
$32,000 in the subaccount shall be reimbursed to the person that provides the
$32,000 pursuant to section 28-2470.10, subsection A. The
director shall annually allocate monies from the subaccount to a foundation
that is qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the United States internal revenue
code for federal income tax purposes.� The foundation must:
1. Have been in existence for at least twenty years.
2. Have a mission that includes providing college
scholarships to:
(a) The sons and daughters of those who have served
the United States honorably as soldiers in the United States army.
(b) The spouses of enlisted soldiers on active duty
in the United States army.
3. Envision increasing its fundraising and
visibility to encourage more applicants to apply for scholarships and to
provide larger scholarships to an increasing number of deserving applicants to
both:
(a) Reward army families for the sacrifices that
army soldiers make every day to serve their nation.
(b) Help the spouses and children of army soldiers
become leaders in society.
4. Award scholarship monies to:
(a) Children of former United States army members
who were killed while serving in the United States army or who received an
honorable discharge or medical discharge.
(b) Children of United States army members in good
standing serving in regular active duty, active duty reserve or active duty
national guard.
(c) Spouses of United States army members in good
standing serving in regular active duty, active duty reserve or active duty
national guard.
G. The director shall inventory and account for the
use of any tangible personal property donated to the fund.
H. The department may
use up to $150,000 from the veterans' donations fund each fiscal year to
administer this section.� In addition to any other full-time equivalent
positions authorized by law, the department is authorized two full-time
equivalent positions to administer this section.
I. On notice from the director, the state treasurer
shall invest and divest monies in the fund as provided by section 35-313,
and monies earned from investment shall be credited to the fund.
END_STATUTE
Sec. 2. Section 41-1304.05, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE
41-1304.05.
Architect of the capitol; state capitol building areas and other
facilities; jurisdiction; maintenance; definition
A. The office of the architect of the capitol is
established in the Arizona legislative council. The director of the
Arizona legislative council shall select an architect of the capitol and other
personnel necessary to develop and maintain a master plan for the state capitol
complex.� The architect of the capitol appointed by the director of the Arizona
legislative council must have master planning experience and experience working
with the state historic preservation office and historic government buildings. The
architect of the capitol shall submit the master plan to the members of the
Arizona legislative council for approval at least once during each regular
session of the legislature.
B. The Arizona legislative council is responsible
for the allocation of space, operation, alteration, renovation and control of
the following:
1. The original 1898 statehouse area of the state
capitol building known as the state capitol museum.
2. The 1919 wing and the 1938 justice addition of
the state capitol building known jointly as the legislative services wing.
3. Any other facility acquired for legislative use
and placed under legislative council jurisdiction and the grounds adjacent to
it.
4. Except as provided in subsection D, paragraph 2
of this section, the Wesley Bolin
memorial
and
charlie kirk freedom
Plaza east of the state capitol building.
5. Except as provided in subsections C and D of this
section, the grounds adjacent to the state capitol museum, the legislative
services wing, the house of representatives wing and the senate wing and
comprising the area east of the state capitol executive tower with a northern
boundary of West Adams street, an eastern boundary of Seventeenth avenue and a
southern boundary of West Jefferson street in Phoenix, Arizona.
C. The speaker of the
house of representatives is responsible for the following:
1. The allocation of
space, operation, alteration, renovation and control of the house of
representatives wing of the state capitol building.
2. The allocation of
space and control of the parking lot area adjacent to the house of
representatives wing, the parking lot area with a southern boundary of West
Adams street, an eastern boundary of seventeenth avenue and a northern boundary
of West Monroe street in Phoenix, Arizona and
comprised of
comprising
one hundred five parking spaces and the southeast
portion of the parking lot area with a southern boundary of West Monroe street
and an eastern boundary of Seventeenth avenue in Phoenix, Arizona and comprised
of fifty parking spaces.
D. The president of the senate is responsible for
the following:
1. The allocation of space, operation, alteration,
renovation and control of the senate wing of the state capitol building.
2. The allocation of space and control of the
parking lot area adjacent to the senate wing and the southwest portion of the
parking lot area of the Wesley Bolin
memorial
and charlie kirk freedom
Plaza east of the state capitol
building and
comprised of
comprising
one
hundred twenty parking spaces.
E. The joint legislative budget committee is
responsible for the allocation of space, operation, alteration, renovation and
control of the building located at 1716 West Adams street in Phoenix.
F. The director of the department of administration
is responsible for the maintenance of the entire state capitol building.
G. For the purposes of this section,
"control" includes security services.
END_STATUTE
Sec. 3. Section 41-1363, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE
41-1363.
Monuments and memorials within governmental mall; legislative
authorization; approval; procedure
A. Notwithstanding section 34-225 or any other
law, a monument or memorial recognizing or honoring a person, group, entity or
event shall be located in the governmental mall only if a prior legislative act
authorizes the monument or memorial.
B. After legislative authorization, a monument or
memorial may be established by the following procedures:
1. The proponents shall submit a concept to the
legislative council for the design, dimensions and location of the monument or
memorial.
2. The legislative council shall review the concept
and determine the most appropriate location that highlights the monument or
memorial and preserves the integrity of the governmental mall.
3. After recommendations from the historical
advisory commission regarding the historical integrity of the monument or
memorial and after any necessary negotiations with the proponents, the
legislative council shall approve the final design, dimensions, location and
maintenance requirements of the monument or memorial, the minimum dollar amount
required for deposit in the state monument and memorial repair fund established
by section 41-1365 and any statement, declaration, writing or inscription
that will be imprinted or stamped on the monument or memorial.
4. Before construction of the monument or memorial
begins, the proponents shall enter into a contract with the legislative council
specifying the conditions of the design, dimensions and location of the
monument or memorial, a list of the artists, contractors and subcontractors
that will be employed, the minimum dollar amount required for deposit in the
state monument and memorial repair fund established by section 41-1365
and a verification that all employees for the project are insured and that this
state is indemnified against any liability in regard to the construction.
5. An approved monument or memorial shall be
completed and dedicated to this state within two years after the effective date
of the legislative act authorizing the monument or memorial.
C. Except as otherwise provided in this section or
section 41-1365, all fundraising and the establishment and administration
of a fund for deposit of monies and contracts for artistic design and
construction of the monument or memorial are the sole responsibility of the
proponents.
D. If the completed monument or memorial deviates
from the final design or dimension that was approved by the legislative council
or any statement, declaration, writing or inscription that is imprinted or
stamped on the monument or memorial deviates from that which was approved by
the legislative council, the proponents are responsible for any costs incurred
to conform the monument or memorial to the approved form.
E. The proponents shall collect an amount equal to
at least ten percent of the artistic design and construction costs of the
monument or memorial or the amount approved by the legislative council as
provided in subsection B of this section.� The legislative council shall
deposit these monies in the state monument and memorial repair fund established
by section 41-1365 for the maintenance, repair, reconditioning or
relocation of that monument or memorial.� The monies must be deposited in the
fund before
the
beginning
of
construction of the monument or memorial.
F. The legislative council may relocate monuments or
memorials that are located in the governmental mall.
G. This section does not apply to monuments or
memorials in which a political subdivision has a contractual interest and that
are located in the governmental mall but that are outside
the
Wesley
Bolin
and charlie kirk freedom
Plaza.
END_STATUTE
Sec. 4. Section 41-1862, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE
41-1862.
Arizona fallen firefighter memorial committee; powers and duties;
subcommittee
A. The Arizona fallen firefighter memorial committee
shall:
1. Establish an acceptable set of standards for
persons to be memorialized on the Arizona fallen firefighter memorial that is
located in
the
Wesley Bolin
and charlie
kirk freedom
Plaza.
2. Determine those persons who are eligible to be
memorialized.
3. Plan and provide for additions to and maintenance
of the Arizona fallen firefighter memorial on an annual basis.
4. Solicit private monetary donations or public
monies from municipalities for deposit in the Arizona fallen firefighter
memorial fund.
5. Conduct an annual fallen firefighter memorial
service.
6. Determine those persons who are eligible for the
tuition waiver scholarship pursuant to section 15-1808 and report the
determination to the governor's office and Arizona board of regents or to each
community college district governing board, as applicable.
B. The committee may establish a subcommittee that
is appointed by the committee chairperson to receive applications from and
recommend tuition waiver scholarships for persons who are eligible for the
tuition waiver scholarship pursuant to section 15-1808. The
subcommittee shall forward any recommendation for a tuition waiver scholarship
to the committee for approval.
C. The committee shall meet every January and
May. The committee may conduct additional meetings in person or
telephonically.
END_STATUTE
Sec. 5.
Wesley Bolin and
Charlie Kirk Freedom Plaza
The legislative council shall
designate Wesley Bolin Plaza as the "Wesley Bolin and Charlie Kirk Freedom
Plaza".
Sec. 6.
Charlie Kirk
memorial; procedures; delayed repeal
A. Pursuant to section 41-1363,
subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, this act authorizes the legislative
council to provide for the placement in the Wesley Bolin
and Charlie Kirk Freedom
Plaza
of a memorial dedicated to the commemoration of Charlie Kirk.
B. The procedures
prescribed in section 41-1363, Arizona Revised Statutes, apply to the
establishment of the memorial.
C. Public monies are not
authorized for the costs of the memorial. All fundraising and contracts for
artistic design and construction of the memorial are the sole responsibility of
the proponents. This state may not facilitate fundraising or
establish a state fund for the deposit of the monies.
D. This section is repealed
from and after September 30, 2029.
Sec. 7.
Don Bolles memorial; procedures; delayed repeal
A. Pursuant
to section 41-1363, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, this act
authorizes the legislative council to provide for the placement in the Wesley
Bolin and Charlie Kirk Freedom Plaza of a memorial dedicated to the
commemoration of Don Bolles.
B. The procedures
prescribed in section 41-1363, Arizona Revised Statutes, apply to the
establishment of the memorial.
C. Public monies are not
authorized for the costs of the memorial. All fundraising and contracts for
artistic design and construction of the memorial are the sole responsibility of
the proponents. This state may not facilitate fundraising or
establish a state fund for the deposit of the monies.
D. This section is repealed
from and after September 30, 2029.
Sec. 8.
Legislative
findings
The legislature finds that:
1. The memorial authorized
by section 6 of this act is in recognition of Charles James Kirk, a
well-respected civil rights leader and the founder of Turning Point USA, who
was killed by an assassin's bullet while exercising his first amendment rights
to free speech and peaceful assembly, as well as advocating for free, open and
civil debate.
2. The memorial authorized
by section 7 of this act is in recognition of Don Bolles, a well-respected
Arizona reporter, who was killed in a car bombing nearly fifty years ago in
connection with his investigative work.