SB 1344 Summary

• Amends Arizona Revised Statutes section 11-142 regarding the organization and establishment of new counties.

• Specifies that a new county officially exists and becomes organized on December 31 following the election of county officers, with affected counties continuing to provide services until that date.

• Authorizes county officers to take preparatory actions before January 1, including employing personnel, acquiring property, and entering into contracts and intergovernmental agreements, with all such actions to be confirmed upon official organization.

• Establishes that budgets for new counties before their first full fiscal year shall be set by a distribution board and apportioned among new counties according to their respective populations.

• Provides that the governor shall appoint a clerk of the superior court in each new county until an elected clerk can take office, and requires that all ordinances and codes from the affected county continue in effect in the new county until superseded.