Attorney Alexis Glascock reviews the latest laws to be passed by Arizona legislature including photo RADAR, physician credentialing, sober living facilities, off-road vehicles and egg expiration dates.
Photo RADAR
A new law will require towns and cities to have law enforcement officials review violations marked by traffic cameras and radars. The law emphasizes that radar is not allowed to confirm if a violation has been made. It must be reviewed to prevent the possibility of someone receiving a traffic ticket based on a glitch.
Physician credentialing
This law was unanimously passed by the legislature, and it requires insurance companies to complete the credentialing process on their side within 100 days so the physicians are able to see their patients more quickly.
Glascock emphasizes that this law is not meant to detect bad doctors or to hand out overall credentials. It is only meant to speed up the process between physician and insurance company.
Sober living facilities
The country and state are dealing with a large opioid crisis, and this year Governor Doug Ducey helped pass a law that will aid those addicted to the drug. The sober living facilities are the second phase of the legislature’s plan. Glascock says the idea is to help people move out of rehab into these facilities to get them ready to live independently again.
Another point of the law, Glascock says, is to take away the process from local authority. It also includes a list of regulations, how to address bad actors and identifying ADA compliance.
Off-road vehicles on state trails
Arizona is the second most popular state for off-roading, so it makes sense that there’s a demand for safer off-roading technology. The law increases the length and width of vehicles that are allowed on state trails. It was a result of an increased amount of side-by-side vehicles.
Egg expiration dates
Arizona will join the other 29 states in the country that have increased the expiration date on Grade A eggs to 45 days. Glascock says that some of the reasoning behind it is to eliminate food waste, and there has been no research that shows increasing the expiration date would be unsafe.
TED SIMONS: EVERY YEAR, THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE PASSES HUNDREDS OF NEW LAWS, MANY OF WHICH FLY UNDER THE RADAR DURING A BUSY LEGISLATIVE SESSION. JOINING US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THESE LESSER-KNOWN NEW STATUTES IS ALEXIS GLASCOCK, OF FENNIMORE CRAIG. WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT ON THE SHOW. PHOTO RADAR, WHAT CHANGED THIS YEAR?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: IN THE PAST, SEVERAL LEGISLATORS WERE OPPOSED TO PHOTO RADAR. THIS IS NOT THAT BILL. THIS IS TO REQUIRE TOWNS AND CITIES HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE TO BE SURE A VIOLATION OCCURRED. WE HAVE SEEN THE CARS GO BY, FLASHING, FLASHING, AND THERE IS A GLITCH WITH THE SYSTEM. THIS MAKES SURE BEFORE THE TICKET IS ISSUED, THERE WAS A VIOLATION.
TED SIMONS: SO THE PHOTO RADAR FIRM CAN'T BE THE ONE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A VIOLATION.
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: THAT'S CORRECT. IN MOST TOWN ALREADY DO THAT BUT NOW IT WILL MAKE IT UNIFORM ACROSS THE STATE.
TED SIMONS: HOW PREVALENT IS IT IN ARIZONA?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: VERY PREVALENT, IN IT WAS FOUNDED, IT STARTED IN PARADISE VALLEY THE VERY FIRST ONE WAS STARTED ON LINCOLN DRIVE. AS MANY OF US KNOW.
TED SIMONS: LET'S KEEP IT MOVING HERE, PHYSICIAN CREDENTIALING. THAT CHANGED HOW?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: THIS IS A BIG BILL. AND REPRESENTATIVE HEATHER CARTER WORKED ON IT FOR A YEAR WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS. IT INVOLVED THE PHYSICIANS SEEKING QUICKER PACE OF CREDENTIALING AS WELL AS THE HOSPITALS, AND INSURANCE PLANS WORKED WITH THEM FOR OVER A YEAR TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING POSSIBLE. IN THE PAST, WITH THE GROWING POPULATION, THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE DEMAND OF PHYSICIANS IN ARIZONA. AND AS MORE PEOPLE MOVE IN IT ONLY INCREASE. WHAT THIS LAW DOES IS SAYS FOR THE INSURANCE PLANS, WITHIN A HUNDRED DAYS, IF A PHYSICIAN REQUESTS CREDENTIALING AND THEIR APPLICATION IS COMPLETE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A DECISION WITHIN A HUNDRED DAYS. AND WITHIN SEVEN MORE DAYS THEY NEED TO BE LISTED IN THE NETWORK PLAN. IF YOU ARE A PHYSICIAN, AND YOU WANT TO SEE PATIENTS, AND YOU ARE NOT IN THE NETWORK, FREQUENTLY, THEY WON'T COME TO YOU BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE SAME PRICING.
TED SIMONS: WERE THEY CONCERNED THAT BAD DOCTORS WOULD SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: THIS IS NOT THAT KIND OF CREDENTIALING. THAT IS DONE BY THE STATE. THIS IS SOLELY TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO BE IN THE PLAN. IT'S NOT A REVIEW OF THEIR CREDENTIALS.
TED SIMONS: THAT MAKES SENSE. YOU CAN NOW FREEZE YOUR CREDIT CARD. WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: WHAT IT DOES, IN THE FALL, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CREDIT BUREAU GIVING OUT INFORMATION. CONSUMERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THEY WANT TO LOCK DOWN OR FREEZE THEIR CREDIT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IN ARIZONA, THERE WAS A $5 FEE. IF YOU WANTED TO FREEZE IT OR TEMPORARILY FREEZE IT OR OPEN IT UP AGAIN. THIS REMOVES THE FEE. IF IT'S A COUPLE FOR TWO PEOPLE THEY DO ALL THREE BUREAUS, IT'S $30 EACH TIME AND IT GETS EXPENSIVE OVER TIME. THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE FEE.
TED SIMONS: SOBER LIVING FACILITIES. WHAT ARE SOBER LIVING FACILITIES?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: AS YOU KNOW THERE IS A VERY SERIOUS OPIOID CRISIS IN COUNTRY AND IN ARIZONA. AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE WORKED REALLY HARD TO ADDRESS IT THIS SESSION. THIS IS THE SECOND PHASE OF THAT. IT WAS SENATOR MCGEE WHO WORKED ALL OVER THE STATE AS PEOPLE MOVED OUT OF REHAB CENTERS BECAUSE OF THEIR OPIOID ADDICTION. THEY THEN GO TO SOBER LIVING FACILITIES AND THEY HAVE POPPED UP ALL OVER THE STATE IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. AND TOWN ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO MANAGE THAT BECAUSE THEY WANT THEM TO SETTLE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT CAUSING PROBLEMS. THIS TAKES IT FROM THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, TOWNS AND CITY, AND SAYS TO DHS, SET OUT REGULATIONS SO THEY ARE LICENSED AND INSPECTED NO BAD ACTORS. BECAUSE IT IS A VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION.
TED SIMONS: THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW BAD ACTORS , HAVEN'T THERE?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: EXACTLY. IT IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THAT SO THAT IN ADDITION, IT REQUIRES THEM TO COME INTO H.U.D. COMPLIANCE. AND AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE. THEY'LL HAVE MORE PROTECTION AND NOT BE AGAINST THE LAW.
TED SIMONS: LET'S MOVE ON TO OFF-ROAD VEHICLES ON STATE TRAILS. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW ONE TO ME. WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: WHAT IT DOES, IN ARIZONA, AS YOU KNOW OFF ROAD VEHICLES ARE VERY VERY POPULAR. ARIZONA IS ONE OF THE TWO BIGGEST STATES FOR THIS. WE GET A LOT OF WINTER VISITORS WHO DO THIS. THE IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT. WHAT THE BILL DEALS WITH IS, THE CONSUMERS ARE DEMANDING SAFER TECHNOLOGY. AND A LOT OF THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS WHICH WERE WRITTEN ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO LIMITED THE WIDTH AND WEIGHT TO 60-INCHES AND 1800-POUNDS. WHAT THIS NEW BILL DOES IS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT'S COME ON THAT ARE SAFER AND HEAVIER, IT ALLOWS THOSE HOVS OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLES TO BE USED IN ARIZONA, SO NOW IT INCREASES IT TO 80-INCHES AND 2500-POUNDS. BUT THE VEHICLES ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TED. THEY ARE NOT THE OLD ATVS WE THINK OF. THEY ARE CALLED SIDE BY SIDES. FAMILIES WERE THEY USED TO BUY THREE OR FOUR WHEN THEY GO OUT ON THE TRAILS THEY BUY ONE VEHICLE. AND THEY ARE IN ROWS JUST LIKE A CAR. YOU HAVE TWO OR THREE SEATS IN THE FRONT, TWO OR THREE IN THE BACK. THE PARENTS ARE DRIVING AND THE KIDS ARE IN YOUR FRIENDS ARE IN AND YOU CAN GO OUT AND ENJOY THE DESERT IN A MUCH SAFER VEHICLE. THEY HAVE FULL ROLL CAGES, SAFETY BELTS. THAT MAKES THEM HEAVIER. OUR LAW DID NOT ALLOW FOR THOSE. AND AS THAT IS NOW BECOMING THE TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE, WE'LL BE IN COMPLIANCE.
TED SIMONS: AND IT IS ALLOWING THOSE ENTHUSIASTS TO STAY IN ARIZONA.
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT. YES. AND THE ESTIMATED TAX REVENUE FROM LAST YEAR IS $10 MILLION. IF YOU PRESUME 8 OR 9 PERCENT TAX ON THE VEHICLES SOLD. IT'S SIGNIFICANT.
TED SIMONS: THE LAST ONE. LET’S DEBATE REAL QUICKLY EGG EXPIRATION DATES?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: EGG EXPIRATION DATES YES. ARIZONA IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT HAD A VERY SHORT EXPIRATION ON GRADE A EGGS. WE ONLY ALLOW THEM TO BE ON THE SHELF FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT HAS NOW INCREASE TO 45 DAYS FROM 24. SO IF YOU HAVE A GRADE A EGG IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR AND SEE EXPIRATION, YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO THROW THEM AWAY AT A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. SO FOR RESTAURANTS HOTELS AND FOR FAMILIES THEY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THESE EGGS MUCH LONGER. WE ARE NOW ONE OF 30 STATES THAT HAS ADOPTED THIS WIDER UHM.
TED SIMONS: SO WE ARE NOT TRAILBLAZING THIS OR ANYTHING.
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: NO WE ARE NOT. THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDIES TO SUPPORT THIS.
TED SIMONS: AND WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS LEFT WE HAVE A STATE DINOSAUR, DON'T WE?
ALEXIS GLASCOCK: YES, THE SONORAURUS. HE WAS FOUND A CRUSTACEAN ERA DINOSAUR IN COCHISE COUNTY. AND IS NOW ON DISPLAY IN THE ARIZONA SONORAN TUCSON MUSEUM. WHAT IS DOES IS IT ALLOWS THE KIDS TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS THIS YEAR. THEY PICKED WHICH ONE IT WAS GOING TO BE. AND IT WAS VOTED AS OUR STATE DINOSAUR.
TED SIMONS: WELL WE HEARD ABOUT THAT ONE SOME OF THESE OTHERS LIKE EGG EXPIRATION, INTERESTING STUFF. GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE IT.
Alexis Glascock: Attorney, Fennemore Craig
