PHOENIX - A proposal, HB 2696, giving preference to married couples applications and greatly restricting the ability of single people, straight, Gay and Lesbian, to adopt a child in Arizona was defeated Monday, Apr. 17 in the Arizona State Senate.

By a vote of 15 in favor, 13 against, two not present on the floor, HB 2696 failed in its third read before the Arizona Senate because 16 votes were needed for passage.

Three Republicans, Senator Carolyn Allen of Phoenix, Senator Jay Tibshraeny of Chandler and Senator Toni Hellon of Tucson, joined the ten Democratic Senators present on the floor in opposing the bill. All 15 yes votes were by Republican state Senators, including Tim Bee of Tucson. Senators Paula Aboud of Tucson and Robert Cannell of Yuma were not on the floor at the time but both had expressed opposition previous to HB 2696.

Legislative proponents, such as House Majority Leader Steve Tully, R-Phoenix, denied it's a slap at homosexuals, stating the sole reason for introducing the legislation is the research-based belief that placing children with married couples is in their best interests, but one of the two cosponsors of HB 2696, state Rep. Rick Murphy, R-Phoenix, when reached for comment by E-mail, responded, "The bottom line is, some people want to use any loophole possible to facilitate adoptions by Gay individuals and 'couples' masquerading as individuals. This bill will restrict those efforts . . . "

HB 2696 was also supported by the Center for Arizona Policy and the Arizona Catholic Conference, two groups spearheading the drive to get the Protect Marriage Arizona amendment, barring governmental and legal recognition of same-sex marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships on the ballot for the upcoming general election in Arizona.

Arizona’s Department of Economic Security which oversees adoptions opposed the bill, as did the Children Action Alliance, the Arizona Human Rights Fund (AHRF) and the National Organization for Women (NOW) and Wingspan.

“It is clear that Arizonans are growing weary of the religious right playing political football with real people's lives,” said Cathy Busha, Director of Programs for Wingspan in a statement about the Arizona Senate action on HB 2696.

This vote by capital observers was seen as a surprise, since on Apr. 3, the Arizona Senate had given approval to HB 2696 when the bill was before the Senate Committee of the Whole and the Arizona House had approved the measure, 33-25 on Mar. 9. Even with the unexpected turn, reaction to the defeat was swift.

“I am extremely elated that common sense prevailed,” said openly Gay state Senator, Ken Cheuvront, D-Phoenix. “This bill would have had dire consequences for any single individual who would adopt a child in Arizona.”

Barbara McCullough-Jones, AHRF Executive Director, said the organization was “thrilled” by “how the vote turned out,” since HB 2696 was a “clandestine effort to prevent Gays and Lesbians from adopting children in Arizona.”

“The defeat of this bill is a testament to the caring nature of our supportive Senators who truly value children's lives,” state Representative Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, said of learning of HB 2696's failure to win Senate approval.

Open Lesbian Tucson City Councilmember, Karin Uhlich, D-Ward 3, said the defeat of the bill, “was a vote in support of all children and families in the state.”

Arizona’s Senate vote, Apr. 17, kills HB 2696 in that form. Its sponsor, state Representative Steve Tully expressed doubt on whether he will try to resurrect the proposal before the end of the legislative session but there are only two way the proposal can be resurrected one of the “no” votes moves to reconsider HB 2696, or with a strike-everything amendment.

A strike-everything amendment would have to be done in a committee and presently, only two committees, the House Appropriations and Senate Appropriations are meeting, working on a proposed state budget so the chances of this measure being resurrected are seen by capital observers as slim to none but as in past sessions, it was pointed out, nothing is over until Sine Die, when the Arizona Legislature formally adjourns the session.