NEWS RELEASES: Governor’s Office
(Editor’s note: News releases are published unedited, unless they contain factual errors.)
Governor Doug Ducey Signs Bills To Help Arizonans Suffering From Addiction
Governor: “Law enforcement can only go so far”
PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey today signed two bills aimed at preventing and treating opioid addiction in Arizona.
SB1283 targets “doctor shopping” by requiring physicians in Arizona to access and update the Controlled Substance Prescription Monitoring Program (CSPMP) database before prescribing a controlled substance to a patient.
HB 2355 allows a pharmacist to dispense Naloxone without a prescription to a person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose, a family member or community member in a position to assist that person.
“For those suffering from addiction, law enforcement can only go so far. We must find help for those who want it,” said Governor Ducey. “In an average month, more than 1,000 Arizonans are in possession of as many as four prescriptions at a time from four different doctors. By requiring physicians to access and update the prescription drug database before prescribing to a patient, SB 1283 will help identify, address and end ‘doctor shopping’ among Arizonans. This is an important step in preventing new addictions and even death, as prescription opiates can serve as a gateway to more dangerous and often fatal illegal drugs. I’m thankful to Rep. Kavanagh for his leadership and commitment to reversing this tragic epidemic.”
“As we work to curb the trend of addiction, we are also focused on helping those already suffering. In 2014, 552 people died of opioid poisoning in Arizona. Thanks to Rep. Heather Carter and all who championed on behalf of HB 2355, we’re giving family members the tools to save a loved one’s life. We are committed to ensuring that more substance abuse treatment options are available, and hope that those who are given a second chance at life because of this legislation will seek help in overcoming their addiction.”
Governor Doug Ducey Signs ‘ABLE Act’ To Help Arizonans With Disabilities Save For Their Future
PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey today signed House Bill 2388, authorizing the development of a state program that will better allow individuals with disabilities in Arizona to save for their future.
“Too often, parents of children with disabilities face unique challenges and tremendous anxieties when it comes to the health and well-being of their kids. Ensuring their long-term financial security should not be one of them. This legislation will allow Arizona families who have a loved one with a physical or mental disability to save for their child’s future through an account, similar to a college savings plan. Funds in these accounts can later be used to cover a variety of needs – including housing, transportation, specialized education and healthcare – without jeopardizing their access to Social Security and Medicaid. This will give parents a little more peace of mind while providing economic protection and greater opportunity to our most vulnerable citizens. I thank Rep. John Allen for his hard work on this bill and his compassion for thousands of kids and families across Arizona.”
Governor Doug Ducey Signs Bills To Eliminate Vehicle License Tax For Families Of Fallen Service Members
PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey today signed House Bill 2153, which exempts surviving spouses or dependents of a U.S. military service member killed in the line of duty from paying a Vehicle License Tax and registration fee.
“We must continually honor the brave women and men who’ve served and sacrificed in defense of our nation’s freedom — not only with our words, but with action,” said Governor Ducey. “We owe our patriots in uniform, and their families, a debt that can never be repaid, so this bill is only a small token of our appreciation. Supporting our military members, veterans and their families will remain a top priority.”
Phoenix—Responding to the growing popularity of “sharing economy” internet rental services like Airbnb and VRBO that connect vacationers with short-term home rentals, some of America’s most-popular tourist destinations— including some in Arizona—are banning or severely restricting private short-term rentals. Today Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a law that stops local governments from turning responsible property owners into outlaws simply because they allow paying guests to stay in their homes.
In Arizona, Jerome, Sedona, and Scottsdale have either banned vacation rentals or severely restricted them. SB 1350, sponsored by Sen. Debbie Lesko and passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, is the first law of its kind in the country and ensures property use restrictions are limited to true health and safety concerns.
“This law is a huge win for property owners statewide. Gone are the days when you could face jail time and thousands in fines for renting out your house to tourists,” said Christina Sandefur, the executive vice president of the Goldwater Institute and author of the model bill that SB 1350 was based on.
The Goldwater Institute has represented homeowners whose rights to use their property as a vacation rental have been taken away or restricted. One of those homeowners is Glenn Odegard, who purchased a dilapidated home in Jerome, Ariz., with the purpose of turning it into a vacation rental. Town officials gave him building permits, and even a business permit, to restore the former historic home. After Glenn spent hundreds of thousands restoring the home to its former glory, town officials changed their minds and said he could no longer use the home as a vacation rental. The Institute took Jerome to court to protect Glenn and dozens of other Jerome homeowners with vacation rentals.
This new law puts an end to that lawsuit and protects Glenn and future homeowners that want to use their homes as vacation rentals.
“Arizona has a long tradition of protecting private property rights. This new law brings that tradition into the 21st Century by protecting homeowners who want to take advantage of new technologies and platforms to earn a living or supplement their incomes,” said Sandefur. “In combination with Arizona’s law that protects homeowners against eminent domain and regulatory takings, this law makes Arizona, without a doubt, the most property-rights-friendly state in the union.”
