TUCSON, AZ – Pima County Republican Party Chairman Shelley Kais is calling for the arrest of any “lawless” government officials and elected representatives, who defy Arizona laws by mandating masks and vaccines. The Arizona law which forbids local governments and schools boards from requiring masks goes into effect September 29.
The prohibition of vaccine mandates for government employees will also go into effect.
“On September 29, any school board member, city councilman, or supervisor who requires masks or vaccines mandates and passports should be arrested,” said Kais.
“Republicans are very concerned about the masking up of our K–12 children and university students, vaccine mandates, vaccine passports, and discrimination in schools based on who is or isn’t vaccinated,” said Kais. “The power grab by our elected officials to play this ‘game of chicken’ is nothing more than political and follows neither science nor good public policy. We will continue to fight for our first responders, our teachers, and the children in Pima County.”
At issue is the new state statute, ARS 15-342.05, created when Gov. Doug Ducey signed the K-12 education budget bill (HB2898) on June 30. The law states a school board “may not require the use of face coverings by students or staff during school hours and on school property” and a district cannot require students or teachers “to wear a face covering to participate in in-person instruction.
The new law does not carry with it a punishment for noncompliance, as a result, there is no basis in law for an arrest of violators.
On Friday, the Marana School Board voted to join districts across the state to implement mask mandates on campuses, but not before getting a lesson on the status of pediatric cases in Arizona and mask efficacy.
Kais noted that eight school boards will meet during the week of August 23 and many have agenda items to discuss their COVID-19 mitigation strategy and mask mandate.