The law sets up a temporary 15-member Technology First Study Committee to study assistive technology for people with disabilities and report recommendations by October 1, 2027, after which the committee's law is repealed.
Official title: technology study committee; assistive technology
- September 12, 2026
- October 1, 2027: Deadline for the committee's report
- Repealed after October 1, 2027: The law creating the study committee
What changes
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NowA Technology First Study Committee is created with 15 members who have knowledge in assistive technology. The Senate president appoints 7 members from state agencies, disability councils and Northern Arizona University's Institute for Human Development. The House speaker appoints 8 members from the University of Arizona's Sonoran Center, the Arizona Assistive Technology Access Program, Disability Rights Arizona, assistive technology users (2), parent advocate groups (2) and the Delegation for Developmental Disability Advocacy (3DA).
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NowThe committee must meet 2 times per year, at dates and times it decides.
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NowMembers are not paid. Some House speaker appointees may get their expenses reimbursed: the members from the Arizona Assistive Technology Access Program, Disability Rights Arizona, assistive technology users, parent advocate groups and 3DA.
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NowThe committee must study assistive technology issues, including 'technology first' initiatives. It must also analyze emerging assistive technologies, identify possible changes in them and analyze how to better serve people with assistive technology needs.
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NowBy October 1, 2027, the committee must send a report on its activities and recommendations to the governor, the Senate president and the House speaker, with a copy to the secretary of state. The law creating the committee is repealed after October 1, 2027.
Who it affects
- People with disabilities, including people with developmental disabilities, who use or need assistive technology
- Parent advocate groups and disability advocacy organizations named in the law
- Department of Economic Security, Department of Education and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
- Developmental disabilities advisory and planning councils
- Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona disability centers
- Governor, Senate president, House speaker and secretary of state
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- Who provides staff support or funding for the committee
- Deadline for appointing members
- Who leads or chairs the committee
- Whether committee meetings are open to the public
- What 'technology first' initiatives specifically means
- Whether any of the committee's recommendations must be acted on
- Why the University of Arizona Sonoran Center member and the Senate president's appointees are not listed as eligible for expense reimbursement
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.