Since it's inception in 1967, the primary activity of the Arizona Association of Counties has been to advocate for the collective interests of Arizona's fifteen county governments and each of the elected officials who lead their respective communities at the State Capitol. During each Session of the Arizona State Legislature, and throughout the year, AACo's government affairs staff provides a number of services and publications to assist Arizona counties in more effectively monitoring issues that affect their local communities and communicating with state policy makers. Services include:
- Coordinating the annual County Government Platform process. Each year AACo asks county leaders to submit resolutions and policy priorities for state action based on the issues of most concern to their local communities and respective offices.
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Compiling the annual County Government Platform. The resolutions and policy priorities approved by the counties are printed into a final product that outlines AACo's legislative priorities for the coming year. This document is circulated at the AACo annual conference and is available for download online
HERE.
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Placing state legislator contact information in the hands of county leaders. AACo compiles a listing of legislators and their contact information in the hands of members whose county falls within the boundaries of each legislator's district.
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Producing policy analyses and summaries of proposed and enacted legislation. AACo works throughout the year summarizing both proposed and enacted legislation of county interest and makes both available on the AACo website at
www.azcounties.org. At the end of each Session, AACo summarizes all bills signed into law in its
Session Summary Report. -
Publishing the Capitol Notes weekly bulletin. The bulletin summarizes recent activity at the State Capitol that impacts Arizona's county governments and is published online weekly and distributed to the membership and interested stakeholders.
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Hosting County Day at the Capitol. This annual event brings together Arizona's elected and senior appointed officials with all of Arizona's legislators at a single event at the State Capitol. Additionally, AACo makes arrangements for each county to host legislative days with their lawmakers; arranging for everything from publicity and invitations to lawmakers to securing event space and lodging accommodations, if required.
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Conducting Legislative Wrap-Up Meetings. AACo staff travels across the state at the end of every Session to update county leaders on how new laws and state budget action may impact their operations.
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Coordinating Arizona's federal advocacy through the National Association of Counties. AACo works with its federal counterpart, NACo, to ensure that the voices of Arizona's county leaders are heard on Capitol Hill and in the Administration on issues of importance to county government. AACo also helps coordinate Arizona's participation in the NACo policy making process by encouraging and supporting members' involvement in both steering and standing committees and the annual Legislative Conference of our renowned federal counterpart.
For more information about AACo's advocacy services, please visit the links to the right or contact us at (602) 252-6563 at either extension 222 or extension 224 .
