Sun Citians grab Chandler senator's attention

State Sen. Jay Tibshraeny's legislative district is miles away from the West Valley, but the Chandler Republican is quickly becoming familiar with Sun Citians.

Tibshraeny, who represents District 21, is the chairman of the Senate's Government Institutions Committee, which next week will consider House Bill 2034, a controversial piece of legislation that has come under fire in Sun City and Sun City West.

"I'll have to educate myself on this bill, but certainly I understand there is a lot of interest, especially in the Sun Cities area," Tibshraeny said Wednesday.

The bill, which has passed the House, would keep homeowners associations such as the Property Owners and Residents Association in Sun City West and the Sun City Home Owners Association from enforcing CC&Rs relating to parking on streets.

PORA Director Bill Hansen said the legislation would require the county to enforce the law and, he noted, given the overburdened Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, parking violations would fall low on the MCSO's to-do list.

Earlier this week, Hansen encouraged Sun City and Sun City West residents opposed to the bill to contact Tibshraeny and let him know how they feel.

They have.

"Bills like this always grab a lot of attention, and I've certainly received a lot of e-mails. Not just from your area, but from my side of town, too," he said. "We'll take a good look at it."

Tibshraeny said business has been hectic at the Senate and that his committee will handle 20-25 House bills next week.

Hansen expressed concern that HB2034 might be given a cursory glance and then passed just to get the session over with, but Tibshraeny said anyone sharing that concern can stop worrying.

"I haven't gotten a chance to look at it too closely yet. I will say, though, that I'm pretty good about making sure people's bills get a hearing," he said. "And I'm going to give both sides a chance to make their arguments."

The Government Institutions Committee will meet next Thursday, June 25, at the State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St.

Although no time has yet been specified, meetings typically take place in the morning and are usually in Senate Hearing Room 1.

 For more information on the Government Institutions Committee and to view the meeting time when it is posted, visit www.azleg.gov/CommitteeInfo.asp?Committee_ID=11.