Religiously motivated bills, resolutions, and laws in Arizona
Scientology-backed legislation
A church-affiliated group, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, has pushed for laws in several states to change mental-health practices. Many of the proposals focus on mental-health screenings in schools and psychiatric medications, especially for children.
In Arizona:
• Drug trials. Senate Bill 1477 is set to be voted on by the Senate on Monday. The bill requires additional layers of informed consent and state oversight of clinical trials of psychotropic drugs, such as Ritalin and Prozac, at state-funded institutions. Inspired by studies on pregnant women taking antidepressants at the University of Arizona, supporters say they do not believe people are always informed of the risk. Opponents say the measure is unneeded because of federal oversight and say supporters and sponsors misled health committee members by not sharing a six-page response to legislators' questions about the program from researchers.
• Mental-health screenings. Several bills in recent years would have required additional written consent from parents before a child was screened at schools. Such proposals have passed and been vetoed by the governor in recent years. Senate Bill 1414 failed in committee this session despite passionate testimony from supporters. Mental-health advocates questioned paragraph after paragraph of negative assertions about psychiatric treatments that parents would have to sign, including language that differentiated mental illness from "real diseases" and said mental illnesses were solely opinion.
• Other measures. The Legislature has also considered measures that would have made it a criminal offense to prescribe psychiatric drugs to children without first conducting a battery of other tests, such as for allergies. A Scientology-backed drug rehabilitation program called Second Chance has also been proposed for the state prison system.
• Elsewhere. Similar proposals have been weighed by state legislators in Massachusetts, Florida, Texas, Utah, New Hampshire, Colorado and several other states. Arizona legislators and Scientologists
The following lawmakers have taken trips to Hollywood paid for by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights since January 2004. Other trips took place before the group was registered to lobby legislators. According to the group's lobbyist records, the trips were valued at $250 to $499. Also, some legislators were briefed on campaigns and presented with possible legislation.
February 2006, CCHR International Human Rights Award Dinner:
• Rep. Tom Prezelski, D-Tucson, cost unavailable.
Dec. 2005, grand opening, Psychiatry: An Industry of Death museum:
• Rep. Pamela Gorman, R-Anthem, $253.40.
August 2005, Celebrity Center anniversary gala:
• Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, $499. • Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, $495. • Sen. Carolyn Allen, R-Scottsdale, $405. • Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, $485 • Sen. Marilyn Jarrett, R-Mesa, $485 • Sen. Linda Gray, R-Glendale, $485.
February 2004, CCHR International Human Rights Awards Dinner:
• Sen. Albert Hale, D-Window Rock, $432. • (former) Rep. Sylvia Laughter, I-Phoenix, $315. • (former) Rep. Mark Thompson, R-Tempe, and wife, $631.40. • Rep. Lucy Mason, R-Prescott, $295.70.
Other Connections
CCHR International Advisory Board:
• Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa • (Former) Rep. Mark Thompson, R-Tempe
National Federation of Women Legislators:
The group's treasurer is Bruce Wiseman, U.S. president of CCHR. The commission and affiliated groups provide funding. The late Sen. Jarrett was the president of the sister organization, National Order of Women Legislators.
Sen. Linda Gray serves as chairwoman of the order's education committee. Other legislators participate in the organization, which held its annual convention in Phoenix in September.
Sources: State lobbyist disclosures; Citizens Commission on Human Rights; staff research (azcentral.com sidebar)