Arizona Lawmakers Want To Mandate State Emergency Council Meetings After Emergency Declaration
Download mp3 (7.49 MB)On March 11, 2020, Gov. Doug Ducey issued his first emergency declaration. However, in that time Ducey only convened the State Emergency Council once.
SB 1719 unanimously passed in the Arizona Senate would force Ducey and future governors to convene the council within 14 days of an emergency declaration.
Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios calls the measure “a simple, bipartisan bill.”
"This would simply utilize the council that already exists and require that that council meet at least every two weeks in public. Because I think it's important to provide some transparency so that the Legislature, so that the public is aware of the issues," Rios said.
The council was created to monitor Ducey’s activities and advise him. While the governor claims to have been in regular contact with certain members, unlike in a meeting, the advice they have given him is not public.
The bill now heads to the full House.
The Show spoke with Howard Fischer for more about the council and other bills at the Legislature.
