HB 2147
Initials JH/SR Page 1 Government
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
HB 2147: public officers; employees; disqualification; convictions
Sponsor: Representative Blackman, LD 7
Committee on Government
Overview
Prohibits, with exceptions, a person who has been convicted of specified crimes from holding
public office or public employment.
History
Persons holding public office or public employment are subject to certain regulations imposed
by statute. Public officers and employees are prohibited from using or disclosing any
confidential information acquired during their tenure. In addition, public officers and
employees cannot use their position to secure items of value or use their position to make a
profit. Statute also provides criminal punishments for certain unauthorized acts that include
acquisition of certain interests, receipt of rewards for an official act and knowingly omitting
to perform any duty required of them by law (A.R.S. §§ 38-433, 38-444, 38-447, 38-504).
Provisions
1. Prohibits a person who is convicted of a serious offense, specified felony offenses, a
domestic violence offense or other specified crimes from holding any public office or public
employment. (Sec. 1)
2. Allows a person convicted of limited specified crimes to hold public office or public
employment if all the following are met:
a) the person completed all of the terms and conditions of their sentence;
b) the person is not currently serving probation; and
c) the person submits a letter of endorsement and confidence signed by the chair of the
legislative district, county and state political party in which the person is a member
and a United States Congressman that represents the person. (Sec. 1)
3. Requires a person who seeks public employment or public office to verify their eligibility
by doing all the following:
a) submit a full set of fingerprints to the Arizona Department of Public Safety;
b) submit the results of the background check to a law enforcement agency in their
district; and
c) obtain, from the Secretary of State, confirmation of the person's eligibility. (Sec. 1)
4. Specifies who must pay for the background check under different circumstances. (Sec. 1)
5. Establishes that a determination of ineligibility is final and non-appealable, except in
specified circumstances. (Sec. 1)
6. Contains an applicability clause. (Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note