Hundreds of new laws passed by state lawmakers this past session go into effect on August 9th. Among the most controversial, one that expands the state’s voucher program for private schools to virtually every student in Arizona. Arizona Republic reporter Alia Beard Rau will discuss the new laws.
Ted Simons: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOOK AT SOME OF THE NEW STATE LAWS THAT GO INTO EFFECT TODAY. AND VALLEY NATIVE AND ROCKER CHESTER BENNINGTON RECENTLY TOOK HIS OWN LIFE. WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT "MIGHT" BE BEHIND CELEBRITY SUICIDES. THOSE STORIES NEXT, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
Video: "ARIZONA HORIZON" MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF ARIZONA PBS. THANK YOU.
Ted Simons: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON." I'M TED SIMONS. A U.S. SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN IS APOLOGIZING AFTER SPECULATING ON WHY ARIZONA SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN VOTED NO ON THE "SKINNY REPEAL" OF OBAMACARE. WISCONSIN SENATOR RON JOHNSON SAID DURING A RADIO INTERVIEW IN CHICAGO THAT MCCAIN'S BRAIN TUMOR AND THE OVERNIGHT TIMING OF THE VOTE COULD HAVE LED TO MCCAIN'S DRAMATIC NO VOTE. MCCAIN'S OFFICE RESPONDED BY SAYING, QUOTE, "IT'S BIZARRE AND DEEPLY UNFORTUNATE THAT SENATOR JOHNSON WOULD QUESTION THE JUDGMENT OF A COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND." MCCAIN SAID HE VOTED AGAINST THE BILL BECAUSE IT FELL SHORT OF THE REPUBLICAN PROMISE TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WITH MEANINGFUL REFORM. HUNDREDS OF NEW STATE LAWS GO INTO EFFECT TODAY, INCLUDING NEW REGULATIONS ON EVERYTHING FROM PRIVATE GUN SALES TO LICENSE PLATE COVERS. HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE NEW ARIZONA LAWS IS ARIZONA REPUBLIC REPORTER, ALIA BEARD RAU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANKS FOR JOINING US. SEVERAL HUNDRED NEW STATE LAWS. IS THAT MORE OR LESS THAN USUAL?
Alia Beard Rau: IT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN USUAL, 344 TO BE EXACT. WE HAD FEWER THIS SESSION PASS.
Ted Simons: FEWER VETOES TOO.
Alia Beard Rau: THEY HAD 11 VETOES. THERE ARE THINGS HE WANTS TWEAKED OR DOESN'T HIKE AT ALL BUT IT WAS FEWER THAN YEARS PAST.
Ted Simons: AND ONE OF THE BIGGIES BLOCKED.
Alia Beard Rau: THEY TURNED IN 11,000 SIGNATURES YESTERDAY. THE SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE WILL GO THROUGH TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ENOUGH AND IT WILL GO ON THE BALLOT 2018.
Ted Simons: LET'S GET TO A FEW. WE START WITH KIDS AND PETS IN HOT CARS. TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.
Alia Beard Rau: THIS IS A POPULAR ONE THIS SESSION. IT DEALS WITH A CIVIL PROTECTION FROM A CIVIL LAWSUIT IF YOU SEE A CHILD OR ANIMAL IN IMMINENT DANGER. YOU MUST FIRST CALL POLICE OR ANIMAL CONTROL AND THEN YOU CAN BREAK INTO THE CAR TO SAVE THE ANIMAL OR KID AND YOU ARE PROTECTED FROM CIVIL LAWSUITS.
Ted Simons: YOU HAVE TO CALL POLICE FIRST. YOU CAN'T JUST BREAK WINDOWS EVERY TIME YOU SEE SOMETHING.
Alia Beard Rau: IF THEY ARE IN IMMINENT DANGER.
Ted Simons: THE OBSCURE LICENSE PLATES WE SEE OUT THERE THAT THE FASTER DRIVERS WANT NO MORE?
Alia Beard Rau: THE COVERS THAT YOU CAN'T TELL FROM THE SIDE WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE, AND THEY OBSCURE EVERYTHING, THEY ARE OUT THE DOOR. AS OF TODAY, YOU BETTER TAKE THEM OFF THE CARS.
Ted Simons: THEY USED TO BE ILLEGAL.
Alia Beard Rau: THEY WERE, AND IT WAS OVERTURNED. SENATOR STEVE FARLEY SPENT YEARS TO GET THEM BACK RESTRICTED. THE VANITY PLATES ARE FINE. THESE ARE THE ONES THAT SPECIFICALLY YOU CAN'T SEE THE NUMBERS. IT'S FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Ted Simons: WE HAVE A LAW REGARDING GUN SALE, PRIVATE GUN SALE, NO BACKGROUND CHECKS.
Alia Beard Rau: AS FAR AS WE KNOW, NO ONE IS DOING BACKGROUND CHECKS. THIS ENFORCES THE FACT THAT NO STATE OR ENTITY CAN DO A BACKGROUND CHECK FOR PRIVATE GUN SALES.
Ted Simons: DID THIS GET THROUGH EASILY?
Alia Beard Rau: PRETTY EASILY. THERE IS A REVERSE LAW, IT DIDN'T HAVE A TON OF PUBLIC OUT CRY THOUGH THERE ARE CONCERNS.
Ted Simons: BUSINESSES WILL NOW GET 90 DAYS TO CORRECT, WHAT? VIOLATIONS OF THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT?
Alia Beard Rau: CORRECT. THIS IS ADA, PHYSICAL ISSUES WITH THE FACILITY. SAY YOU HAVE A HOTEL THAT DOESN'T HAVE A RAMP OR ACCESS TO CERTAIN BUSINESSES, YOU HAVE 90 DAYS TO FILE A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THOSE. THIS STEMS FROM CASES IN CALIFORNIA WE SAW WHERE A LAWYER FILED HUNDREDS OF LAWSUITS AGAINST BUSINESSES ALL AT ONCE IN AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT MONEY. IT GIVES 90 DAYS AND THEN YOU CAN FILE YOUR LAWSUIT.
Ted Simons: SPEAKING OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, BINGO PARLORS HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ADA REGS. HOW SO?
Alia Beard Rau: WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT WORKS. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THOSE PLAYING BINGO. IT'S NOT ACCESS TO THE FACILITY. IT'S SOMEONE THAT CAN'T USE A TRADITIONAL BINGO CARD, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A DEVICE TO MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO PLAY.
Ted Simons: BINGO IS BIG AROUND TOWN.
Alia Beard Rau: IT IS.
Ted Simons: LET'S MOVE TO FOLK, THIS WAS AN INTERESTING ISSUE. YOU ARE MOVING, AND THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE MOVERS WON'T UNLOAD YOUR STUFF UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED.
Alia Beard Rau: THIS IS CALLED PREDATORY MOVING. WE HAVE WRITTEN STORIES ABOUT COMPANIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS. THIS IS PROTECTION FOR INDIVIDUALS HAVING THEIR STUFF MOVED. A MOVER CANNOT HOLD YOUR ITEMS HOSTAGE. THEY HAVE TO GIVE THEM TO YOU ONCE YOU REACH THE DESTINATION AND THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE YOU A WRITTEN CONTRACT SAYING THIS IS THE MONEY YOU WILL OWE. THE PROBLEM IS MOVERS SHOW UP AT YOUR NEW HOUSE, YOU OWE THREE TIMES WHAT WE TOLD YOU, YOU OWED. YOU ARE NOT GETTING YOUR STUFF UNTIL YOU PAY US.
Ted Simons: INTERESTING IT TOOK UNTIL NOW TO GET A LAW ABOUT THAT. END OF LAW DECISIONS. TALK TO US ABOUT THIS. THIS WAS CONTROVERSIAL.
Alia Beard Rau: THIS ONE WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL DEBATES WE SAW THIS SESSION. THIS HAS TO DO WITH A DOCTOR OR NURSE OR HOSPITAL BEING ABLE TO OPT OUT OF PROVIDING OR NOT PROVIDING CARE THAT WOULD LEAD TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S DEATH. THE DEBATE WAS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DOES IT MEAN STOPPING FOOD AND WATER? THERE WAS NOT A CLEAR EXPLANATION ON WHAT IT COULD MEAN. IT SEEMED TO BE UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL CASES. THIS IMPACTED THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY TO MAKE DECISIONS BUT IT PROTECTS THE DOCTORS AND NURSES AT THIS POINT.
Ted Simons: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF WE GET CASES OUT OF THAT. THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT OVER WITH. ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION WAS A FETUS ALIVE DURING ABORTION.
Alia Beard Rau: WHEN YOU SAY ABORTION, PEOPLE THINK OF GOING IN FOR ABORTION. THERE ARE CASES YOU HAVE A FETAL ABNORMALITY. YOU ARE GIVING BIRTH. YOU WANT TO BE WITH YOUR BABY THE LAST FEW MINUTES, THIS REQUIRES EMERGENCY CARE THAT IN SOME CASES FAMILIES MAY NOT WANT.
Ted Simons: DOCTORS WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THAT AS WELL.
Alia Beard Rau: YOU HAD SOME DOCTORS SUPPORTING IT AND OTHERS THAT WERE AGAINST IT.
Ted Simons: WILL THAT SEE LAWSUITS DO YOU THINK?
Alia Beard Rau: IT COULD. WE OFTEN SEE LAWSUITS ALONG THIS.
Ted Simons: 18-YEAR-OLDS CAN SERVE BOOZE.
Alia Beard Rau: THEY CAN. IT WAS 19 AND OLDER, BUT THIS LOWERS IT TO 18 SO IT OPENS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR 18-YEAR-OLDS.
Ted Simons: ONE TIME MEDICATION.
Alia Beard Rau: I GOT A CALL FROM A WOMAN THIS WEEK SAYING SHE WAS GLAD TO SEE THIS. IT WOULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HER. YOU ARE OUT ON VACATION OR MAYBE IT'S SATURDAY AND YOU FORGOT TO FILL A PRESCRIPTION. IT HAS TO BE A CHRONIC MEDICATION. IT CAN'T BE PAIN MEDICATION. IT'S BLOOD PRESSURE, THIS WOMAN HAD GLAUCOMA, FOR YOUR EYES. THE PHARMACIST CAN GIVE YOU A PARTIAL PRESCRIPTION.
Ted Simons: I GUESS THAT GOT THROUGH CLEANLY.
Alia Beard Rau: IT DID. I DON'T REMEMBER MUCH CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT ONE.
Ted Simons: THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT KIDS, SOME KIDS COULD NOT WEAR SUNSCREEN AT SCHOOL?
Alia Beard Rau: AS A MOM, THIS MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE BILL. THIS SAYS BASICALLY A SUNSCREEN IS A PRESCRIPTION. PRIOR TO THIS YOU NEEDED A WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION FOR YOUR CHILD TO BRING SUNSCREEN TO SCHOOL AND APPLY IT THEMSELVES. THIS SAYS WE LIVE IN ARIZONA. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. NO ONE IS GOING TO OVERDOSE ON SUNSCREEN. YOUR KID CAN BRING SUNSCREEN TO SCHOOL OR CAMP OR WHATEVER.
Ted Simons: SO QT AND ALL THESE THINGS, YOUR KID COULDN'T PUT THIS ON AT SCHOOL.
Alia Beard Rau: SOME SCHOOLS LOOKED THE OTHER WAY, BUT TECHNICALLY UNDER ARIZONA LAW, YOU COULD NOT.
Ted Simons: THE LAST ONE, INHALERS AT SCHOOL. THIS IS MORE SERIOUS AND MAKES SENSE.
Alia Beard Rau: YOU HAVE A KID THAT DOESN'T HAVE A PRESCRIPTION WITH THE NURSE'S OFFICE FOR ASTHMA BUT THEY HAVE A BREATHING ATTACK. IT ALLOWS THE NURSE TO GIVE THEM THE INHALER WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION.
Ted Simons: THAT'S IMPORTANT STUFF.
Alia Beard Rau: OBVIOUSLY, THE KID CAN'T BREATHE.
Ted Simons: IS THERE A LAW THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT THIS YEAR, THAT YOU ARE ALMOST CERTAIN WILL MAKE IT NEXT TIME AROUND?
Alia Beard Rau: WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ESA BILL. THAT'S THE BIG DEBATE NEXT SESSION. DO THEY LET THIS GO TO VOTERS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, REPEAL IT, PULL THE RUG OUT FROM THE OPPONENT --
Ted Simons: WHICH THEY HAVE DONE BEFORE.
Alia Beard Rau: AND BRING IT BACK TO THE TABLE.
Ted Simons: SOMETHING CHANGED?
Alia Beard Rau: THERE IS HOPE THAT YOU PUT ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS IN THERE. THEY COULD DO THAT.
Ted Simons: GOOD STUFF. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
Alia Beard Rau: reporter, Arizona Republic