SB 1021
Initials FK/JB Page 1 Government
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
Senate: GOV DP 5-2-1-0 | 3rd Read 16-12-2-0
SB 1021: attorney general; legislature; legal challenges
Sponsor: Senator Kavanagh, LD 3
Committee on Government
Overview
Requires the Attorney General to defend all laws passed in Arizona against all legal challenges.
History
The Attorney General oversees and directs the Department of Law (DOL) and serves as chief
legal officer of Arizona. The Attorney General is the legal advisor of the departments of Arizona
and renders legal services as the departments require (A.R.S. § 41-192).
The DOL is composed by the Attorney General, the DOL must:
1) prosecute and defend in the Supreme Court all proceedings in which the state of Arizona
or an officer Arizona, in the officer's official capacity, is a party; and
2) at the direction of the Governor or the Attorney General, prosecute and defend any
proceeding in a state court other than the Supreme Court in which the state of Arizona or
an officer of Arizona is a party or has an interest in (A.R.S. § 41-193).
Provisions
1. Mandates the Attorney General defend all laws passed by the Legislature and signed by the
Governor against all legal challenges. (Sec.1)
2. Stipulates that the Attorney General may petition to be relieved from this duty if at least two-
thirds of the members of both the Senate and House Judiciary committees or their successor
committees, vote to grant relief. (Sec. 1)
3. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note