Category: Uncategorized

What fees can be vacated?

You must ask the court where your case was heard to have your unpaid juvenile fees vacated by completing a petition. 

The petition form can be completed by: 

• Someone with fees owed from a previous juvenile case 
• A parent or guardian, for their child with a juvenile case 
• A parent or guardian, for themselves, if they owe fees as part of their child’s case 

The petition form can be completed by you or by your attorney. You do not need to have an attorney to complete the form.  

• You must file a petition for each case you want unpaid fees vacated. You will need your case number, which you can find on your paperwork from the case, or you can call the court where the case was heard to ask for your case number. 
• You must file the petition in the county where the juvenile case was heard. File the original form with the court clerk and a copy with the county or city attorney. There is no fee to file the petition. 
• Click here for the petition form. You can use this form regardless of which county you will file the petition in. 
• Click here for detailed instructions from the court about how to complete the petition. 

Links and Contact Information: 

Arizona Supreme Court website about vacating juvenile fees 

County Clerk contact information 

County	Superior Court Clerk Phone Number
Apache	(928) 337-7550
Cochise	520) 432-8600 (Bisbee) and (520) 803-3060 (Sierra Vista)
Coconino	(928) 679-7600
Gila	(928) 402-8866 (Globe) and (928) 474-3978 (Payson)
Graham	(928) 428-3100
Greenlee	(928) 865-4242
La Paz	(928) 669-6131
Maricopa	(602) 372-5375
Mohave	(928) 753-0713 (Kingman), (928) 453-0701 (Lake Havasu City) and (928) 758-0730 (Bullhead City)
Navajo	(928) 524-4188
Pima	(520) 724-4200
Pinal	(520) 866-5300
Santa Cruz	(520) 375-7700
Yavapai	(928) 771-3312
Yuma	(928) 817-4222

You’re Invited

This month, thousands of young people and their families had a victory in the Arizona legislature. 

In a vote of 58 to 1, the Arizona House of Representatives passed HB 2033.  

This bill would help young people avoid falling into a cycle of debt and poverty for mistakes they made during childhood. HB 2033 will end extraneous juvenile court administrative fees, allowing them to truly pay their debt to society and move on to a better life. 

Over the last 2 years, Stand AZ has been working in partnership with the Berkley Law Center and a coalition of criminal justice advocacy organizations to raise awareness and pass legislation addressing this issue.  

Thanks to the hundreds of parents, teachers, and advocates that have taken action with us, lawmakers have seen a big wave of support for young people leaving the juvenile court system. 

With the help of partners and volunteers, we sent action alerts to constituents, promoted the effort on social media, sent over 2,500 messages to legislative leaders and had over 600 individuals sign in to support HB 2033 in committee hearings. 

This piece was published on the Arizona Republic on January 22nd, 2022.

Note to Arizona lawmakers: Do an end-around on huge tax cuts at your own risk

Opinion: Voters don’t want tax cuts for the wealthy while schools remain woefully underfunded. It’s risky for lawmakers to do an end-around their wishes in an election year.

Arizona Republicans want to repeal and replace the huge tax cuts for the wealthy, which they forced through in the 11th hour last legislative session, to avoid a citizen’s referendum that has halted them.

This referendum should be on the November ballot as Proposition 307. Arizona voters demanded the opportunity to weigh in on the GOP maneuver.

Yet it’s clear that these politicians don’t want to hear what Arizonans have to say. They remain hellbent on favoring tax cuts that dramatically favor the wealthiest individuals, while our schools and public services remain woefully underfunded.

Voters are tired of improperly funded schools

Our volunteers – parents, teachers and everyday citizens – spent countless hours in the summer heat collecting hundreds of thousands of citizens’ signatures, and repeatedly heard from voters of all political stripes that enough was enough.

Voters are tired of the legislative majority ignoring Arizonans’ consistent and repeated demands for more state revenue to properly fund education. 

They see firsthand in their schools the impact of having the worst teacher pay in the nation (50th), the most crowded class size in the nation (23.5, compared to the national average of 16), and a school counselor to student ratio of 848 to 1, compared to the national average of 424 to 1 (the recommended ratio is 250 to 1).

If any “repeal and replace” were to happen, it would be carried out by 47 Republican legislators and the governor turning their backs on the 1.7 million Arizonans who voted yes to fund education. 

That makes no sense in a new election year.

Most don’t want a ‘repeal and replace’

Polling conducted on behalf of Stand for Children Arizona in December shows that these legislators are vulnerable despite redistricting. A full 55% of voters say that they would be less likely to vote for a candidate for state office who worked to “repeal and replace” Senate Bill 1828 and nullify Proposition 307. 

More than 60% of voters are convinced that “repeal and replace” shouldn’t happen because the Legislature shouldn’t use dishonest gimmicks to push through their tax cut for the wealthy.

And they believe legislators must be held accountable in next November’s election for undermining the will of the voters.

Meanwhile, 71% of Arizona voters still insist on additional funds for public schools, with 48% saying that there is a “great need.” 

The Proposition 208 – Invest in Education election victory in November 2020 shows that our coalition knows how to turn polling into reality.

How lawmakers can help schools

If legislators are smart, and if they truly believe the budget can be improved from last year, they should consider:

• Using the projected budget surplus to honor the will of the voters. That means fully funding K-12 education, including teacher pay and other teacher recruitment and retention measures, more school counselors, classified staff pay (bus drivers, instructional aides), and strengthening Career and Technical Education.
• Proposing permanent solutions to the outdated caps on education spending. The Legislature knows that Arizona’s schools need at least a short-term fix by March or else schools are going to have to slash their budgets, which will irreparably hurt Arizona’s children.

Word is that they plan to attach a one-time fix to the “repeal and replace” of the old budget bill, thus strong-arming the education community into going along with their tax break for the wealthy because we want to keep school budgets intact.

This cynical, short sighted approach adds insult to injury and does nothing to solve the real problem: Every time the Legislature slashes state revenue it shrinks the pie, so to speak, and further strains school funding under the current expenditure limit.

We don’t think that makes any sense, and voters agree with us. According to the December poll, two-thirds (67%) of voters believe the state spending cap for education needs to be addressed. This includes 76% of rural voters and 52% of Republican voters.

It’s a no brainer: Fix the cap. Fund education. Because Arizonans are extremely frustrated with politicians and are ready to take it to the ballot box – again.

Rebecca Gau is executive director of Stand for Children Arizona, a non-profit education advocacy organization. This opinion piece also reflects the views of the Invest in Arizona campaign, which includes the Arizona Education Association, Stand for Children Arizona, Children’s Action Alliance, Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Arizona Interfaith Network, and is now joined by Save Our Schools Arizona, and Friends of the Arizona School Boards Association. For more information visit www.investinaznow.com.

If 2020 was a year of unprecedented change, challenging us to adapt and overcome like we haven’t been challenged in generations, 2021 was all about finding our footing and achieving positive impact and growth. Stand empowered more parents to engage in their kids’ education and grow as community leaders. And more of Arizona’s most precious resource, our students, leaned in to help build a future they can carry.

As our team gears up for another big year ahead, we want to pause for a moment to say thank you to all who have supported us, and to share our gratitude for having you in our network.

We have so much to be grateful for!

From A Phoenix Mom

Carolina Hernandez and her family

“I am the mother of 3 children of 11, 7 and 4 years old. As a mother and wife, having children in middle school, elementary school, and preschool at the same time has been a real challenge for me. I have to balance my occupations with the time dedicated to each of my children at home, but thanks to the reading programs organized by Stand for Children I have been able to recognize that every moment of living together with the family can be moments of learning.”  

We are thankful for our continuing donors

We are thankful for our new donors 

We are thankful for you! 

You help us connect with parents, send kids more books, and deepen home-school connections for those that need it most. We are so grateful to the many of you who have demonstrated your compassion for the future of our kids by investing in our work.Thank you!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season!

Warmly,

Rebecca, Liliana, Katherine, Georgina, Atenas, and Carlos

The Stand for Children Arizona Team

Once again, we must save over $1 billion in funding for education and crucial services. 

This week, the Invest in Arizona Coalition submitted hundreds of thousands of signatures to the Secretary of State to halt Governor Ducey and the legislative majority’s efforts to create a large tax break for the wealthy at the expense of schools and crucial services. 

Read the full press release from the Invest in Arizona signature turn-in press conference.

Yasmin Castro – 9th grade student Apollo High School speaking at the press conference at the Arizona capitol.

After 1.7 million voters passed Prop 208 – Invest in Ed, powerful interests have been working to undermine the new law. Their efforts are threatening the economic future of our state and the fight is not over.

That is why, in addition to defending Proposition 208 in trial court, the Invest in Arizona coalition filed ballot referenda to reject fiscally irresponsible giveaways that personally benefit Ducey and his wealthy political donors, while harming Arizona’s children and economy.

The next step? More legal battles. Opponents who want to protect the wealthy at the expense of students have already filed legal challenges to the signatures we filed. They don’t want you to be able to vote on this issue – they think it belongs in the hands of 48 people at the capitol – and the legal fees continue to add up.

 Will you chip in to help Invest in Arizona?

Should we win the legal battles and the become official, these bad bills will show up on the November 2022 ballot for US to decide – not 48 people at the capitol.

You can join us in this fight – it is far from over.

Learn about the Invest in Arizona campaign!

This piece was published on the Arizona Republic on August 30th, 2021.

Opinion: The cards are stacked against Invest in Ed, but we haven’t stopped fighting. We’ll do it in the trial court and we’ll do it with 3 referenda in 2022. 

Last week, in a flawed decision that has dangerous implications for the future of our state, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the entirety of Proposition 208, the Invest in Education Act, should be found unconstitutional if revenues from the new fund, created by voters in November 2020, exceed an education expenditure limit established in 1980. 

The Supreme Court, filled with Gov. Doug Ducey appointees, sent Proposition 208 back to the lower court, but with a ruling that was clearly intended to seal its fate.   

Meanwhile, each time the Legislature has known the expenditure limit would be reached, it voted to authorize expenditures that exceed the limit. Lawmakers will have to do so again by March 2022 to accommodate revenue from the Proposition 301 education sales tax. 

In fact, Proposition 208 had the same language used by the Legislature and passed by voters in Proposition 301 that excluded its revenues from the expenditure limit. Make no mistake. There was no “drafting error” in Proposition 208. 

School are ‘awash with cash’? Voters disagree 

When asked about convening a special session for the Legislature to address this conflict and allow Proposition 208 to move forward, Gov. Ducey said the state is currently “awash with cash” for education and “brushed aside the suggestion.” 

Arizona ranks 49th for school funding and has the highest average class size in the nation. Our persistent teacher shortage crisis is getting even worse. 

Arizona voters understood this crisis when they passed Proposition 208, expecting to increase school funding to address these dire issues. Polls continue to show that voters want to see significant investment in Arizona’s schools. They do not see an education system “awash with cash.” 

What voters do see, however, is 47 Republican legislators and a governor who care more about their wealthy political donors – who are truly “awash with cash” – than Arizona’s students.   

The disconnect with voters is clear in the direct attacks on Proposition 208, as well as the massive tax cuts for the wealthy enacted this past legislative session and signed by Gov. Ducey. 

That’s why we’re asking voters for help again 

That is why, in addition to defending Proposition 208 in the trial court, the Invest in Arizona coalition is moving forward with three referenda to reject these fiscally irresponsible giveaways that personally benefit Ducey and his wealthy political donors, while harming Arizona’s children and economy. 

Even former Republican Gov. Jan Brewer warned of the dangers of this tax cut and called on him to put the future of Arizona before his personal interests and political ambitions. 

The public shares Gov. Brewer’s concern. 

A strong majority of Arizona voters say they would reject all three bills on the November 2022 ballot. Our polling shows:

• 62% of voters, including 51% strongly, say they would vote to reject a maximum personal income tax of 4.5%. 
• 60% of voters, including 45% strongly, say they would vote to reject a new category for certain wealthy taxpayers to avoid the Proposition 208 surcharge. 
• 53% of voters, including 46% strongly, say they would vote to reject a reduction of the highest income tax bracket to 2.5%. 

Voters reject these bills with impressive numbers that extend across the partisan spectrum. 

Arizona voters are fed up with Doug Ducey and the Legislature’s failed leadership. Voters want stronger schools and a stronger economy, not self-serving leaders whose priority is welfare for the wealthy. 

Arizonans are, once again, collecting signatures to do what the Legislature and governor won’t: Do the right thing for Arizona’s students.  

Rebecca Gau is executive director of Stand for Children Arizona and writes on behalf of the Invest in Arizona coalition: Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Arizona Education Association, Arizona Interfaith Network, Children’s Action Alliance, Friends of the Arizona School Boards Association, Save our Schools Arizona, Stand for Children Arizona. Share your thoughts at [email protected]. 

The COVID-19 pandemic was devastating for families across this country, including mine. My husband lost his job, and as a result, we lost something very important in our lives: our home.

As the mother of five, I was terrified. It was a very difficult situation as I did not have a stable place to provide for my children. Now, my husband is living in a different place with more job opportunities while my children and I are living with my parents.

The increased child tax credit is going to be a godsend for my family. When the payments start arriving in July, I will be able to provide food, clothing and — in a not too distant time — a roof for my children. But this tax credit is supposed to end in 2022, so we need lawmakers to vote to make it permanent.

Knowing that month after month we can count on financial support would give us hope to be able to move forward faster from the financial harm that the pandemic caused my family.

You can learn more about the child tax credit at childtaxcredit.gov. Even if you didn’t earn enough money last year to need to file taxes, you can still sign up to get the payments if your family qualifies.

I know that nothing is worse than not being able to give your kids what they need. This tax credit will be a lifeline for my family and so many others working hard to care for their kids.

In a year of tension and tragedy, we pause to consider our role in the community.

We know that Stand for Children Arizona is not alone in the challenges we’ve overcome and the changes we’ve faced in a record-breaking year. As we start to see a light at the end of the tunnel, we want to acknowledge everyone in our network of community partners, donors, and friends who have leaned in and stepped up to support the needs of families hit hardest by the pandemic, itself, and its economic impact.

We all didn’t just keep pace, we stayed ahead of the challenges. For each of us that meant different things – adapting to technology and providing support, giving a little more time or a little more treasure for those in need. Whatever your focus, from our team to yours: Thank You! 

For our part, we’ve learned a lot that will transform how we do our work moving forward. We plan to continue our more regular direct communication with parents to determine their needs and provide direct support. We will also continue to offer an online option to our workshops and events. 

We wanted to share some examples of how we adjusted and grew from our experiences. And, most importantly, we made a difference for kids and families. We know a lot of you did, too. Again, thank you for work!  

PANDEMIC DIRECT SUPPORT FOR BASIC NEEDS 

During the pandemic we worked closely with our partners at Valley of the Sun United Way, SUNDT Foundation, and Give Directly to provide information, educational supplies like laptops and books, basic items like diapers, baby items, clothing, and direct financial support, to families that were in desperate situations due to the pandemic.

Pandemic Response Workshops 

Together with volunteers, we contacted over 400 families and leveraged our extensive network to design and deliver workshops to address urgent issues families identified, like keeping kids engaged with school at home, the census, and Financial Literacy.

Every Child Reads Grows! 

With kids learning at home or hybrid this past year, the Every Child Reads program has grown. We launched the program in several new school districts, benefiting hundreds of families. There is a lot of reading going on!   

As we enter summer, we are hopeful for a more “normal” year starting in August, and to help even more parents, teachers, school officials, and students than ever before. Thank you for standing with us.  

Please consider donating to our work! You can join us here.  

Last week, students and parents stood in front of legislators to demand a stop to proposed education cuts to their schools. After school, students and their parents drove to the capitol to carry a message that politicians need to hear: 

“Don’t cut education funding!”

Right now, proposed legislation and budget negotiations are making their way through the Arizona legislature that will lead to hundreds of millions in cuts to funding created by the voter-approved Prop 208 – Invest in Ed. Even though this is illegal according to the Voter Protection Act, they are trying anyway, and we are working to stop them. 

Families in Arizona — including schoolchildren — aren’t having it. That’s why Stand Arizona parents, students, and volunteers joined together at last week’s Hands Across the Capitol rally to protest this deliberate attempt to effectively reverse the election result. 

Students, parents, educators, and education advocates are telling their state legislators that they are watching and will remember this next election! Stopping these dangerous, illegal budget proposals will save education funding that was approved by the voters through Prop 208 – Invest in Ed.   

We’re so close to adding a much-needed $1 billion annual investment into Arizona schools, strengthening Arizona’s economy, and doing it all with strict accountability. 

Lawmakers must prioritize the needs of students and schools instead of lining the pockets of wealthy constituents and business interests. 

Is that too much to ask? 

If you want to support the fight to protect this critical education funding, please consider donating today.

Watch AZ Family’s coverage of the event: 

The Arizona Supreme Court has repeatedly throughout history recognized and protected the citizen’s initiative process. Under the Arizona Constitution, the power of the people to create their own laws is equal to that of elected legislators. On April 20, the Arizona Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that seeks to invalidate Prop 208 – Invest in Ed, which was passed by Arizona voters in the last election and upheld by a lower court judge earlier this year. Voters will be watching closely to see if the Supreme Court will respect the people’s constitutional rights. 

(Photo by AZ Capitol Times)

This case is important for several reasons. For one, it represents the third time opposition groups have asked the Arizona Supreme Court to end Invest in Ed. The first, in 2018, led to the initiative being removed from the 2018 ballot after hundreds of thousands of signatures had been collected and submitted. The Supreme Court decided the case on a technicality that left many supporters shell shocked and confused. The second, in the summer of 2020, also tried to remove Invest in Ed after hundreds of thousands of signatures were collected and submitted. This time, Invest in Ed was successful and remained on the November 2020 ballot as Prop 208. It won with 1.7 million Arizonan’s voting in favor, and by a larger margin than either President Biden or Senator Kelly.  

The second reason this case is important is that it represents another attempt by Governor Ducey to strong arm his allies to undermine the voters. In this case, Governor Ducey filed a brief with the high court urging it to sidestep the normal procedure and immediately take the case. Combine this with the atrocious behavior of the House Ways and Means Committee Chair, Shawna Bolick (who is married to Ducey Supreme Court appointee Clint Bolick) when discussing Prop 208 during a committee hearing and other past reports of inappropriate communication between the Governor and the Court, it is critical that this Court act impartially and remain independent, rather than surrender to political pressure from the Executive and Legislative branches. 

The third reason this case is important is that the Arizona Supreme Court has the responsibility to protect the will of the voters against efforts by some legislators and special interest groups to undermine the people’s law. This effort is not new, but is coming to a head with Prop 208. The law that the people passed is clear and constitutional. Yet a small group of political opponents are asking the Court to declare the law unconstitutional as an end-run around the citizen initiative process simply because they didn’t like the outcome of an election. Arizonans value their constitutional right to the ballot measure process, and they will be watching closely to see if the Court will respect that right.  

(Photo by AZ Capitol Times)

The fourth reason this case is important is why we supported Prop 208 to begin with – its impact on the future of our students and our education system. Prop 208 – Invest in Ed restores nearly a billion dollars annually in K-12 education funding to solve the teacher shortage crisis, lower class sizes, hire aides and counselors, and expand career and technical education. Even since its passage, voters still believe that additional funding for public education is needed. 72% of Arizona voters believe there is a need for additional funds for Arizona public schools above and beyond what Prop 208 – Invest in Ed will ultimately provide. The Arizona Supreme Court Justices have a chance to leave a legacy of improving the lives of Arizona’s children.   

If the opponents of Invest in Ed get their way in court, it will undermine Prop 208 – Invest in Ed, and the will of Arizonans who voted for it. We have seen this before – politicians and special interests helping a handful of the wealthiest in Arizona at the expense of teachers, students, and small businesses.  

We’re so close to adding a much-needed $1 billion annual investment into Arizona schools, and our opponents are getting desperate. We hope that the Supreme Court Justices remember who they serve.

PROP 208 LAUNCHES TV AD CALLING POLITICIANS’ DECEPTION AS LEGISLATURE AIMS TO CUT SCHOOL FUNDS APPROVED BY VOTERS 

Arizona politicians attempt to silence the public and undermine the will of the voters with bill SB 1783. A proposed tax loophole for the ultra-wealthy at the expense of funding created by Prop 208 – Invest in Ed. 

(PHOENIX)– This week, Prop 208 – Invest in Ed began airing a new TV ad exposing the effort by Arizona legislators to cut hundreds of millions in revenue for schools created by Prop 208 – Invest in Ed, which was passed by voters in November. The TV ad also urges voters to stand with teachers, parents and urge their legislators to vote “NO” on SB 1783.

After a very emotional and partisan committee hearing, SB 1783 advanced and could head to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote. 

“If SB 1783 passes, Arizona teachers, students, and schools will lose over $377 million in funding. Meanwhile, 6,000 millionaires get a $35,000 per year tax break. That’s more than Arizona’s average starting teacher salary” 

said Rebecca Gau, Executive Director of Stand for Children Arizona.  

“Make no mistake. Despite the lies told by legislators who want to stop us, even the Joint Legislative Budget Committee analysis shows that this is a specific attack on Prop 208 – Invest in Ed, passed by 1.7 million voters in November. SB 1783 violates the Voter Protection Act and could lead to yet another expensive lawsuit for the state.”  

According to a Joint Legislative Budget Committee report, the revenue cuts will only affect revenue created by Prop 208 – Invest in Ed, thus violating the Voter Protection Act. 

“The Prop 208 – Invest in Ed ad alerts voters to the cynical, underhanded actions at the legislature and asks them to take action,” Gau continued. “Over the last few years, public opinion polls have shown that education is THE most important issue for voters. The legislature has clearly forgotten that. We want to make sure they remember.” 

A new public opinion poll released this month by Stand for Children Arizona confirms that a majority of Arizonans want Prop 208 – Invest in Ed to be fully implemented and oppose SB  1783. The survey was conducted in March 2021 by Moore Information Group. Key findings from this poll include: 

A majority of voters disapprove of Senate Bill 1783 – which would create an entirely new tax category allowing some wealthy individuals to avoid the voter-approved Prop 208 surcharge for education.  

• Majorities of voters who are somewhat Conservative (52%) or Moderate (56%) are less likely to support Republican legislators who vote in favor of SB 1783. 
• 59% oppose SB 1783 after hearing arguments both for and against the bill.  
• 49% of voters surveyed answered that they would be less likely to vote for a State Representative who attempts to overturn Proposition 208 

“The legislature is attempting to illegally undermine the 1.7 million Arizona voters who passed Prop 208 – Invest In Ed. The public voted for more education funding and expected the legislature to respect their constitutionally protected wishes,” said Rebecca Gau, Executive Director of Stand for Children Arizona. 

A Joint Legislative Budget Committee analysis on SB 1783 shows that: 

• 86% of the funds removed from Prop 208 – Invest in Ed will come from 6,192 tax-filers with net taxable income of over $1 million per year.  
• These 6,192 Arizonans would receive an annual $34,600 tax break, which is higher than Arizona’s median income, and higher than many starting teachers’ salaries.  

(Source: Joint Legislative Budget Committee Fiscal Note on SB 1783) 

Even after the passage of Prop 208 – Invest in Ed voters want even more funding to go to the classroom. December’s Annual Survey Results from Stand for Children found that more than seven in ten Arizonans still believe there is a need for additional funding for public schools. 

• Efforts to cut taxes in other areas to offset the income tax surcharges imposed by Prop 208 find little support – 40% support, 39% oppose; Opposition increases significantly when voters are informed that funding for education could also be reduced (58% opposed).  
• A possible effort to repeal Prop 208 – Invest in Ed meets with plurality opposition today, whether through the courts or legislative action.  

The ad entitled, “The Truth About Prop 208” is available online at https://youtu.be/eYUOaRLNHrI