Ariz. Admin. Code § R2-20-808 - Advisory Opinions

A. Requests for advisory opinions.

1. Any person may request in writing an advisory opinion concerning the Chapter 6.1, of Title 16 or any regulation prescribed by the Commission pursuant to that chapter. An authorized agent of the requesting person may submit the advisory opinion request, but the agent shall disclose the identity of his or her principal.

2. The written advisory opinion request shall set forth a specific transaction or activity that the requesting person plans to undertake or is presently undertaking and intends to undertake in the future. Requests presenting a general question of interpretation, or posing a hypothetical situation, or regarding the activities of third parties, do not qualify as advisory opinion requests.

3. Advisory opinion requests shall include a complete description of all facts relevant to the specific transaction or activity with respect to which the request is made.

4. The Executive Director shall review all requests for advisory opinions submitted. If the Executive Director determines that a request for an advisory opinion is incomplete or otherwise not qualified, they shall, within 10 days of receipt of such request, notify the requesting person and specify the deficiencies in the request.

5. Advisory opinion requests must be sent to the Clean Elections Commission by email or as directed by the Commission staff. Procedures for advisory opinion requests shall be available on the Commission website.

B. Availability and Comments on Requests.

1. Advisory opinion requests which qualify under this section shall be made public at the Commission promptly upon their receipt.

2. A copy of the original request and any supplements thereto, shall be available for public inspection and may be obtained via a written request to the Executive Director.

3. Any interested person may submit written comments concerning advisory opinion requests made public at the Commission.

4. The written comments shall be submitted within 10 days following the date the request is made public at the Commission. Additional time for submission of written comments may be granted upon written request for an extension by the person who wishes to submit comments or may be granted by the Executive Director without an extension request. Comments on Advisory opinion requests must be sent to the Clean Elections Commission by email or as directed by the Commission staff.

C. Issuance and Reliance on Advisory Opinions

1. Within 60 calendar days after receiving a qualifying advisory opinion request, the Commission shall issue to the requesting person a written advisory opinion or shall issue a written response stating that the Commission was unable to approve an advisory opinion by the required affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting of the Commission.

2. The 60 calendar day period is reduced to 20 calendar days for a qualified advisory opinion request provided the request:

a. Is submitted by a person within the 60 calendar days preceding the date of any election to which Chapter 6.1 of Title 16 applies;

b. Identifies the election by date and jurisdiction;

c. Presents a specific transaction or activity related to the election that may invoke the 20 day period if the connection is explained in the request.

3. An advisory opinion rendered by the Commission may be relied upon by any person involved in the specific transaction or activity with respect to which such advisory opinion is rendered, and any person involved in any specific transaction or activity which is indistinguishable in all its material aspects from the transaction or activity with respect to which such advisory opinion is rendered.

4. Any person who relies upon an advisory opinion and who acts in good faith in accordance with that advisory opinion shall not, as a result of any such act, be subject to any sanction provided in Chapter 6.1 of Title 16.

D. A request for reconsideration may be made by:

1. The person who made the request within 15 days of the opinion's approval but no later than 5 days before the Commission's next regular meeting; or

2. Any person who states a good faith basis for vacating or reversing a prior opinion subject to other rules in this section.

E. Any request for reconsideration shall meet all of the requirements otherwise required of an initial request.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R2-20-808

New Section made by final exempt rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 3523, effective 8/24/2023.