The Senate Research Staff provides nonpartisan, objective legislative research, policy analysis and related assistance to the members of the Arizona State Senate. The Research Briefs series is intended to introduce a reader to various legislatively related issues and provide useful resources to assist the reader in learning more on a given topic.

Specifically, the Research Brief series includes: the Issue Brief, which is a timely and concise synopsis of an issue of recent discussion or action by the Arizona Legislature; the Background Brief, which provides a historical perspective on a given issue; and the Issue Paper, which provides research results and an issue summary in greater detail.

Because of frequent legislative and executive activity, topics may undergo frequent changes. Additionally, nothing in the Brief should be used to draw conclusions on the legality of an issue.