PHOENIX - Arizona lawmakers are moving to enact what could be the most comprehensive regulation of government surveillance in the nation.
Legislation crafted by Sen. Jake Hoffman would prohibit any state or local agency from establishing a surveillance network without first notifying residents and then getting their permission at a public vote. And if voters refuse, that would most immediately wipe out automated license plate readers that many police departments already have.
But the measure by the Queen Creek Republican, approved Wednesday by the Senate Government Committee with bipartisan support, would go further, requiring a public vote on any "government mass surveillance network.'' That is defined to include monitoring by any technological devices, whether stationary, mobile or satellite.
