By Howard Fischer | Arizona Capitol Times
Key points:
- Two Republican lawmakers seek funding for the state Independent Correctional Oversight Office.
- Gov. Katie Hobbs signed legislation creating the office, but without funding
- Arizona faces millions in fines for inadequate prison health care conditions.
Two Republican lawmakers convinced Gov. Katie Hobbs earlier this year to sign legislation to allow some outside oversight of the state’s prison system.
Now they want to see if the governor is willing to fund it so it can begin operations.
Rep. Walt Blackman of Snowflake and Sen. Shawnna Bolick of Phoenix have introduced proposals to provide $1.5 million to the newly created — but so far not operational — state Independent Correctional Oversight Office. The bills, HB2063 and SB1032, are identical, allowing them to advance in parallel and expediting their reach to the governor’s desk.
The lawmakers say they believe they already have the support of a majority of their colleagues.
In fact, the original plan to create the office – complete with the funding – was approved earlier this year by the Senate on a 23-5 vote. It also unanimously cleared the House Government Committee, which Blackman chairs.
But both Blackman and Bolick told Capitol Media Services at the time that the message from the Hobbs was that the idea was DOA with the funding. So when the measure came to the House floor, Blackman agreed to strip out the funding, which allowed the bill to clear the chamber 46-10 and secure the governor’s blessing.
