Session:

House Member

Personal Information:
Home City: Yuma
Member Since: 2015

State Representative Charlene Fernandez is the Democratic Caucus Leader of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 4th Legislative District serving on the Committee on Appropriations. She was first elected to the state House in 2014 and represents Southwestern Arizona, specifically, the majority of Yuma County, western Pima County, southwestern Maricopa County and southwestern Pinal County. Charlene also serves on the Arizona Food and Agriculture Policy Advisory Committee advocating for food security.

Early Life and Education

Fernandez was born in Yuma, Arizona to the late Antonia "Tony" Ramos and Carmen Ramos. She attended Yuma High School where she graduated, and went on to attend Arizona Western College before transferring to Northern Arizona University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.

Career

Fernandez worked for Congressman Ed Pastor for twelve years, coordinating constituent services for the western portion of then Congressional District 2. While working for Congressman Pastor, Charlene spearheaded an effort that culminated in bringing a Veteran's Administration clinic to Yuma County for the first time in history; previously the Phoenix Veterans facility was the closest place for them to receive these services. Her experience led to her becoming a consultant for a software company that produced a Constituent Management System for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Charlene later served Governor Janet Napolitano as a liaison for the Arizona Department of Environment Quality in Yuma County. In this capacity she worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as its counterpart in the Republic of Mexico, to ensure that the air and water in Southwestern Arizona remained safe while ensuring that businesses faced minimal impact.

Political Career

Fernandez was elected to the Yuma Union High School District Governing Board, serving as both President and Vice President.p>In 2008, Fernandez was elected by the Arizona Democratic State Committee to be First Vice Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, she served in this capacity until 2009. In May 2014 Fernandez announced her candidacy for state house. She started her first term in January or 2015. Fernandez has been re-elected to represent District 4 in 2016 and 2018.

House of Representatives

Fernandez was elected Democratic Leader going into the 2018 legislative session. In 2016, Fernandez was elected Democratic Whip. In 2014, Fernandez was appointed to the coveted Committee on Appropriations. She also serves on the newly created Subcommittee on Public Safety, Infrastructure, and Resources.

Tenure

Fernandez is known as a leader on education policy within the state, the Arizona Republic published a guest editorial by her in September 2015 entitled, "How I'd reform private school tax credits." In it Fernandez details the problems with Arizona education funding in general and private school tuition tax credits in particular.

In 2016 Fernandez was name Legislator of Year by the Arizona Parent Teacher Association. Fernandez has also been an ardent foe to the private prison system in the state supported by Governor Doug Ducey. She has challenged the governor's staff from her seat on the Appropriations Committee to justify the need to provide more prison beds.

Personal Life

Fernandez is a highly active member of her community. She serves or has served on the Yuma Community Foundation, Board of the United Way of Yuma County, and Yuma Leadership. Fernandez and her husband Sergio have three adult children, Brian, Carlye, and Lisa.

Sponsored Bills

Bill NumberSponsor TypeShort/NOW Title
HB2099Cvoting rights; restoration; felonies.
HB2100Cappropriation; 2020 census; outreach
HB2101Cminors; consent; housing; shelter services
HB2102Crailroad crew requirements
HB2103Cappropriation; DOR; auditors and collectors
HB2104CTANF; sanctions
HB2105Cprocurement; veterans; Arizona bidders; preference
HB2106Cschools; prohibited courses; repeal..
HB2154Cprivate prison security officers; certification
HB2155Cprivate prison contractors; public records
HB2156Cemployment; training; termination; conditions; discrimination
HB2157Covertime pay
HB2160Cunlawful securing; firearm; minors.
HB2161Corder of protection; firearm possession.
HB2203Cappropriation; school facilities; building renewal
HB2250CSTO scholarship; means testing
HB2251CSTO aggregate credits; cap freeze
HB2252CSTO scholarship; student transfers
HB2253CSTO scholarships; beneficiary recommendations
HB2254CSTO cap; general fund percentage
HB2255CSTO credit cap; growth trigger
HB2256CSTO; administrative costs; allocation
HB2292P*appropriation; election equipment
HB2293P*appropriation; Arizona teacher academy
HB2294P*appropriation; office of tourism
HB2295P*appropriation; street and highway purposes
HB2296Ccorporate income tax; rate increase
HB2297Ccorporate minimum income tax
HB2332Cabortion; religious employers; contraception; repeal
HB2333Ccampaign finance; corporate recipients; registration
HB2334Cindependent expenditures; corporations; funding disclosure
HB2335Cstudent loan servicers; licensure
HB2337Cfamily planning; grant distribution; repeal
HB2338Cappropriation; financial aid trust fund
HB2339Cappropriation; affordable housing
HB2340Ccampaign finance; repeal; reenactment
HB2342Cinsurance premium tax reductions; freeze
HB2344Ccriminal responsibility; gender identity; expression
HB2347Cmedical services; purchase; premiums
HB2351Cmedical services; purchase; study committee
HB2381Ccrime reporting; gender identity; expression
HB2423Cspace flight activities; release agreement
HB2455Cstate aviation fund; purpose
HB2456Cappropriation; state aviation fund
HB2457Cschool instruction; AIDS; homosexuality.
HB2527Cemergency personnel; rest periods; violence
HB2528Cmisclassification; tax fraud; task force
HB2529Cdiaper changing stations; public restrooms
HB2530Ccall center relocation; notice; penalty.
HB2531Chands-free wireless communication devices; driving
HB2532Ccritical health information; emergency responders
HB2536Cfuel; electric cars; hybrids; taxes
HB2537Cmedical marijuana act; modifications
HB2545CAmendments; Colorado River drought contingency
HB2554Ccannabis; definition
HB2555Ccivil penalty; marijuana
HB2558Cstatewide ADA coordinator; appropriation
HB2567Cprobation; monthly fee determination
HB2570Cstudy committee; murdered indigenous women.
HB2571Cdetained juveniles; advisements; notifications
HB2577Cstate law; local violation; repeal.
HB2578Cschools; sex education
HB2579Cpsychologists; licensure; requirements
HB2583Cinternal revenue code; conformity
HB2610Cappropriation; US route 191
HB2611Cappropriation; Navajo nation; bridge replacement
HB2612Cappropriations; tribal senior citizens programs
HB2624CDCS; investigation; schools; children; disabilities
HB2625Cappropriation; military; discharge; tribal ceremonies
HB2626Cappropriation; laboratory; Navajo technical university
HB2627CDWR; tribal consultation
HB2628Cstate agencies; tribal consultation
HB2629Celection law revisions
HB2630Cfreshwater ecosystems; ecological water; survey.
HB2641Ccharter schools; sponsorship; state board
HB2642Ccharter schools; lunches; national acts
HB2644Ckinship foster care; provisional license
HB2646Cdepartment of agriculture; application review
(NOW: commerce authority; application review)
HB2664Cballoon requirements; release prohibition
HB2665Chealth care institutions; education; abuse
HB2666Cmandatory reporting; vulnerable adults; penalties
HB2672Cvacation rentals; short-term rentals; regulation
HB2689Cschools; qualifying tax rate levy
HB2690Ccharter schools; closure; property transfer
HB2691Cappropriation; rollover; additional assistance
HB2694Cfuneral escorts; funeral board licensure
HB2696Cfetal resuscitation; repeal
HB2700Cchild care assistance; rates
HB2701Cstate parks; lottery; heritage fund.
HB2706CALTCS; licensed nursing assistants
HB2707Chumanitarian services special plates
HB2709P*CTEDs; nonprofits; private postsecondary institutions
HB2714Cappropriations; universities; resident tuition.
HB2726Ccorporate income tax credit; moratorium
HB2727Ccommerce authority; qualified investors; report
HB2728Cshort-term rentals; regulation
HB2730Cjoint legislative education funding committee
HCM2001Cdeported veterans; medical treatment
HCM2006Cpostal service; urging independence
HCR2007Cpublic programs; citizens; repeal
HCR2015Cconduct of elections; voters' rights
HCR2021Cright to vote
HCR2028CERA deadline; elimination; urging Congress
HCR2030Cratification of equal rights amendment. . .
HCR2035COfficer Clayton Townsend; death resolution
HCR2036P*tax expenditures; rates; supermajority vote
HCR2037Ccampaign finance; disclosure; source
HCR2041P*death resolution; Ed Pastor
HJR2002CColorado river drought contingency plan..
SB1089Cinsurance; telemedicine
SB1192Cdeath penalty; serious mental illness
SB1324Crepeal; right to work
SB1326Cfamily leave.
SB1327Cemployment; employee work scheduling.
SCR1012Cright to work; repeal
SCR1027CStan Furman; death resolution