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Bill would protect jobs if broadcasters switch

Television and radio stations would not be able to fire employees and keep them from working in the same market under the terms of legislation approved Monday by the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.

SB 1042 is being pushed by broadcast industry employees who complain about "non-compete" clauses in their contracts that prohibit them from working in the same community for up to a year after leaving a station.

The legislation, which now goes to the full House, limits all future non-compete clauses to no more than six months, and only for those people whose faces or voices are on the air. The clauses also would be void if an employee were fired or his or her contract was not renewed.

Senate panel wants voters to extend terms

The Senate Government Committee voted 3-2 Monday to ask voters to extend lawmakers' terms to four years. Proponents of HCR 2006 contend lawmakers waste too much time seeking reelection every two years.

Sen. Peter Rios, D-Dudleyville, said the idea makes sense - but only if lawmakers also ask voters to split each of the state's 30 legislative districts so that each senator represents a full district and each of the 60 House members represents half.

Rios said he will amend the bill, which already has passed the House, to add his plan when it goes to the full Senate.

Whatever emerges, if anything, would have to be approved by voters in November.

Bill would bar schools' requiring medication

Schools would be barred from forcing parents to put their children on drugs as a condition of going to school under the terms of legislation approved Monday by the House.

HB 2220 also forbids school officials to require a parent to seek a psychiatric or psychological evaluation of a child and requires a parent's consent to transport a student to a mental- health treatment facility.

The measure is pushed by some parents who contend they are being pressured to administer Ritalin or other drugs to their children who are being diagnosed as having attention deficit disorder.

The legislation now goes to the Senate.

Vote makes alcohol in body illegal under 21

The House voted 34-16 Monday to make it illegal for anyone younger than 21 to have alcohol in the body.

HB 2467 is being pushed by police agencies contending that teens from throughout the state go to Mexico where the drinking age is not enforced, become intoxicated and come back to this country.

While drivers who are drunk can be stopped, there are no enforcement procedures against passengers and pedestrians.

Foes called the legislation, which now goes to the Senate, both unnecessary and invasive.

House hopes to exempt motorcycle emissions

The House voted unanimously Monday to try to exempt motorcycles from the emission testing requirements in Maricopa and Pima counties.

Rep. Dean Cooley, R-Mesa, originally proposed HB 2501 to exempt the vehicles.

But he amended his bill to seek approval instead from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after it was learned that any change in the state's air quality laws could affect whether the federal government considers the state to be in compliance.

There are about 82,000 motorcycles registered in the state, about 40,000 in Maricopa County and 11,000 in Pima County.

Clean Elections tax credit survives vote

The House fell short of the necessary votes Monday to eliminate a $5 state tax credit for directing the state to donate an equal amount to the system of public financing of elections.

HB 2670 would have continued to allow Arizonans to check a box on their state income tax returns to direct that cash go to the Clean Elections fund, established by voters in 1998.

The legislation had a vote of 33-17 but, because it sought to amend a voter-approved measure, needed 45 votes to pass.

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