- Audit of Arizona MVD finds public safety, consumer issues (Arizona Daily Star, 8/26/2023)
- A recent report reveals that private companies authorized by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) to issue licenses might be granting state licenses to unqualified individuals. This raises concerns not only about road safety but also the potential for fraudulent documents to contribute to identity theft, terrorism, and other crimes. The audit further highlights issues with oversight by the MVD, indicating that some third-party providers failed to conduct necessary reviews of transactions, including issuing titles without proper documentation and not disclosing accurate odometer readings, potentially enabling fraud and vehicle-related crimes. The MVD acknowledges the findings and commits to implementing better oversight measures.
- Arizona’s Independent Prison Oversight Commission says it’s ‘not well positioned’ for oversight (12 News, 1/2/2024)
- Less than a year after Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs established the Independent Prison Oversight Commission (IPOC), a preliminary report reveals that the commission considers itself “not well positioned” for oversight work. The report, submitted on November 15, 2023, suggests that a volunteer commission is not the ideal framework for such oversight due to significant time requirements. The commission, formed in response to concerns about the Arizona Department of Corrections, recommends eliminating the expectation of oversight and transitioning into a Governor’s Advisory Council to collaborate on prison system issues in the short term, while long term oversight should be independent of the Governor’s office.
- Arizona legislature puts measure on Nov. ballot that would establish REINS-style oversight of agency rulemaking (Ballotpedia News, 7/19/2024)
- The Arizona State Legislature has placed a measure on the November ballot that would require legislative ratification for state agency rules estimated to increase regulatory costs by more than $500,000 over five years. This measure is modeled after the federal REINS Act and follows the legislature’s failed attempts to pass similar laws in 2023 and 2024, which were vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs. The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity would be responsible for confirming the estimated regulatory cost of rules triggering legislative oversight.
