NEWS The 2009 Arizone session is underway and AzCDL is on the job!

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The legislative session got underway on January 12th. The deadline for filing Senate bills was Monday, February 2nd. The House deadline is this coming Monday, February 9th. The budget is the center of focus at the Capitol, significantly slowing down the movement of all non-budget related bills. The Senate has yet to assign any non-budget bills to committees. In the House, some bills are moving, but none of AzCDL's requested bills have yet been assigned to a committee.

We were not successful in getting a Campus Carry bill filed in the Senate before the deadline. AzCDL-requested legislation was drafted and sponsorship obtained, but the bill was not filed. However there is still a possibility we can get a bill filed in the House before the deadline. Meanwhile HB 2386, an anti-rights bill, was filed that would add "post secondary educational institution" (i.e., colleges and universities) to the statutory definition of "school" and create a new Class 6 Felony for carrying a deadly weapon there. We strongly oppose HB 2386 and will vigorously work to defeat it this session.

While we're waiting for the Legislature and Governor to successfully address the budget, we encourage all of you receiving our Alerts to amplify your "voice" by signing on to the Legislature's Request to Speak (RTS) system. Being an RTS user does NOT mean you must attend hearings and speak to committees (but if you're so inclined and available, it would have a tremendous impact!).

RTS is required to be used for those wishing to testify at a hearing, but can also be used by those who want to express their opinion on a bill with more "oomph" than an email or letter. Committee chairpersons have access to opinions expressed via RTS. They will know in advance who is for or against a particular bill. RTS opinions are often read by the committee chairperson at a hearing, and may also appear in summaries of bills as they progress through the Legislature. Imagine the impact if the thousands of you receiving AzCDL Alerts were using RTS to express YOUR position on a bill!

RTS users can state their position on legislation to the committee chairperson either via a kiosk at the Capitol or online. As a registered user, you can log into RTS from the comfort of home: Welcome to the Arizona State Request To Speak Information System

However, the only way to become an RTS user is to sign-up using one of the many RTS kiosks at the Capitol. We can help you become an RTS user! If you are interested in becoming an RTS user, send a message to president@AzCDL.org, and we'll help you set up an RTS account.

Keep an eye on AzCDL's Legislative page for updates on legislation we are watching: 2009 Bills . When critical legislation comes before committees, we'll notify you via these Alerts.

These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today!

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The AzCDL DID manage to get theCampus Carry bill "squeaked in" before the deadline. Here's the text of a notice that I got from the AzCDL:

HB 2607, the AzCDL-requested Campus Carry bill, was filed on Monday, February 9, 2009, the last day for bills to be filed this session. HB 2607 removes the authority of a governing board to prohibit a person who possesses a CCW permit from carrying a concealed firearm on the property of an educational institution (i.e., College or University).

It was touch-and-go for awhile. This legislation was drafted and sponsorship was obtained, but the bill was not filed by the Senate deadline. To keep the bill alive, Dave Kopp and John Wentling, AzCDL's president and vice-president, successfully lobbied for Campus Carry to be filed in the House before the House deadline.

All AzCDL-requested bills for this session have now been filed (Constitutional Carry, Defensive Display, Campus Carry, and CCW Reform). Plus there are a number of other pro-rights bills we are supporting. As they begin to move through the legislative process we will notify you via these Alerts. Stay tuned.

These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today!

AzCDL – Protecting Your Freedom