ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

HB 2745: legislative subpoena; perjury; refusal; contempt

Sponsor: Representative Rivero, LD 27

Committee on Government

Overview

Establishes an alternate Legislative procedure following a witness who commits contempt of the Legislature.

History

If a witness fails to comply with a legislative subpoena or refuses to testify, the State Senate (Senate) or House of Representatives (House) may hold them in contempt through a resolution recorded in the journal. The Sergeant at Arms may arrest a non-compliant witness and bring them before the Legislature, based on a resolution signed by the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives and countersigned by the Senate Secretary or Chief Clerk (A.R.S. § 41-1153).

Provisions

1. Designates all testimony that is authorized by the Legislature as sworn testimony under the penalty of perjury.

2. Establishes the following alternate procedure for a witness who refuses to obey a Legislative subpoena:

a. at the discretion of the chairman, allow the witness an opportunity to present evidence in a hearing to demonstrate why they should not be held in contempt; and

b. if the committee, President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives determines that the witness had prior knowledge of the subpoena, the ability to comply, but still refused, then the committee can officially declare the witness in contempt. (Sec. 1)

3. Authorizes the Sergeant at Arms or a county sheriff to arrest the witness and compel their appearance before the House or Senate upon a contempt order signed by the chairman, President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives, and countersigned by the Secretary of the Senate or Chief Clerk of the House. (Sec. 1)

4. Makes technical and conforming changes.

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8. Initials ML HB 2745

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