The Amateur Radio Council of Arizona is encouraging amateur radio operators to support Arizona S.B. 1132 which would create the Arizona Amateur Radio Education and Community Involvement Fund. The fund would be developed from Amateur Radio license plates established in 1995 and would distribute $17 from the plates to amateur radio organizations the licensee chooses. The bill was introduced by Senator Nancy Barto of District 15.

A State Senate hearing on the bill is scheduled for the Senate Transportation & Technology committee on January 24 at 2 p.m. at the Arizona State Capitol Senate building.

Thomas Boza, NE7X—an amateur activist—said in an email, “I will be speaking to the Senate on Tuesday. We need to fill the balcony in the Senate building on Tuesday with as many amateur radio operators as possible.”

The Senate Fact Sheet for the bill states that S.B. 1132:

* Specifies that, of the $25 fee required for the original Amateur Radio Operator Special Plate and subsequent renewals, $8 is an administration fee and $17 is an annual donation. ADOT is required to deposit all administration fees into the State Highway Fund and all annual donations into the Fund.
*Requires the Director to annually distribute all monies in the Fund, excluding administrative fees, to a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that meets all of the following requirements:
a) is comprised of amateur radio clubs throughout Arizona;
b) has specified objectives;
c) awards scholarships to licensed amateurs; and
d) awards grants to affiliated clubs that benefit the amateur radio community.

The bill has had it’s second reading in the Senate and, if passed, would move to the Arizona House of Representatives. You can find your Senator at this link and email your support of the bill.