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House rejects bill expanding liability in drug-related deaths after moral and legal concerns
Summary
Senate Bill 16 21, which would have amended Arizona law relating to drug offenses, failed in the House after members expressed concern about holding people responsible for another person’s independent choice. The measure failed 26-33 following floor explanations of votes.
The Arizona House on June 17 rejected Senate Bill 16 21, a proposal amending ARS relating to drug offenses, by a vote of 26 ayes and 33 nays.
Representative Powell, explaining a no vote, said the bill "holds people responsible for somebody else's decision" and that legislators should not remove individual accountability. "We cannot take that responsibility away from that person," Powell said, adding that while there should be accountability for actions that contribute to a death, the bill as written held people accountable for another person's independent choices.
Following floor explanations the clerk recorded the vote as 26 ayes and 33 nays and announced the bill failed on third reading. The transcript shows members offering moral and philosophical rationales for their votes; the debate focused on whether the proposed expansion of culpability was appropriate under the law.
The clerk recorded the House action and the bill did not pass on third reading.
