[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ARIZONA HORIZON: SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO RESTRICT EARLY VOTING, AT EFFORTS TO HELP THE HOMELESS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN: HOW TO INCORPORATE MINDFULNESS INTO THE WORKPLACE.

THAT'S ALL IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO HORIZONTAL.

I'M TED SIMONS.

FEWER THAN A THOUSAND NEW CASES OF COVID-19 REPORTED IN ARIZONA AGAIN TODAY, THAT'S THE THIRD STRAIGHT DAY WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBER OF CASES BELOW THE 1,000 MARK.

830 NEW CASES TODAY.

ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE IS THE SEVENTH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S ALL TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT YOU KNOW WHO SAYS WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

>> WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S NEED TO GET BACK TO NORMAL, AND WE'RE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT WHEN YOU START DOING THINGS LIKE COMPLETELY PUTTING ASIDE ALL PUBLIC MEASURES, THAT'S QUITE RISKY.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER SURGE, AND THAT'S INVITING ONE.

>>> THE HOUSE GAVE APPROVAL TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S $1.9 TRILLION STIMULUS PLAN TODAY.

>> THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THE PLAN INCLUDES DIRECT PAYMENTS ALONG WITH AN EXPANSION OF CHILD TAX CREDITS, AND EXTENDING AN $300 A WEEK UNEMPLOYMENTED SUPPLEMENT.

ARIZONA STANDS TO SEE AT LOOEPS $16 BILLION OF AID, WITH 2.5 BILLION GOING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

>>> AND IN LOCAL POLITICS, DEBRA STARK LOOKS TO BE THE WINNER, AND YASSAMIN ANSARI APPEARS TO BE THE VOTER IN DISTRICT 7.

THEY BOTH HAVE BIG LEADS OVER THEIR OPPONENTS.

ENOUGH SO THAT THEY BOTH DECLARED VICKRY LAST NIGHT.

>>> COUNTING VOTES AND OTHER ELECTION ISSUES HAVE BEEN A ISSUE FOR STATE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER TODAY WITH SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN.

PRESIDENT FANN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A NUMBER OF BILLS HERE REGARDING VOTING, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS HERE.

IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE PUSHING FOR VOTING RESTRICTIONS.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> I THINK ON ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE WE HAVE PEOPLE ADVOCATING THAT WE SHOULD JUST ARBITRARILY MAIL OUT BALLOTS TO EVERYBODY WHETHER THEY WANT THEM OR NOT, JUST SEND THEM OUT TO EVERYBODY.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WE HAVE MEMBERS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR BALLOT IS SACRED AND SHOULD BE A SECURE THING, SO WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE VOTING ARE THE PEOPLE THAT CAN LEGALLY VOTE; THAT THEY ACTUALLY LIVE HERE IN ARIZONA.

THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY ALIVE AND VOTING ON THEIR OWN, AND THERE IS THAT BALANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE STRUCK BETWEEN THE TWO.

SO MANY OF THESE BALLOT INITIATIVES ARE THE PROPOSALS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, MANY ARE JUST TO TRY TO SECURE THEM A LITTLE BIT.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS ARE THINKING, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR THAT WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SYSTEM IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM, AND I HAPPEN TO LOVE THE MAIL-IN SYSTEM.

I COME FROM AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE AT LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS, AND STANDING IN LINE IS NOT AN OPTION TO THEM.

BUT WE LITERALLY HAD 75 BALLOTS THAT WERE MAILED TO A VACANT LOT, AND NOBODY WAS THERE.

AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INSTANCES LIKE THAT, SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED.

>> BUT SENDING OUT IS ONE THING, RETURNING THEM AND HAVING THEM COUNTED AS A VOTE IS ANOTHER.

THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT DON'T HAVE COPIERS TO MAKE COPIES.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE LICENSES.

WHY IS THIS A GOOD THING?

>> SO I WILL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW BILLS THAT I DO BELIEVE AS WELL ARE A LITTLE OVER THE TOP, SO I AS THE SENATE PRESIDENT DON'T AGREE WITH EVERY ONE OF THEM.

BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS TO MAKE SURE THE PERSON THAT IS LEGALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE GETS THEIR BALLOT AND IS ABLE TO VOTE SO WE MAKE SURE OUR ELECTIONS ARE TRUE AND HONEST, AND WE DON'T HAVE MISHAPS IN THEM.

>> YEAH, OKAY.

ANOTHER ONE HERE, THE TIME ALLOWED TO SEND BALLOTS CUTTING THAT BY FIVE DAYS.

THAT WOULD MEAN LESS TIME FOR VOTERS TO RETURN THEIR BALLOTS.

AGAIN, WHY IS THAT A GOOD THING?

>> I'M NOT SAYING IT IS A GOOD THING.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT.

WHY ARE SOME SAYING IT IS A GOOD THING?

WHY IS IT EVEN BEING CONSIDERED?

>> AGAIN, I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS THAT ARE TRYING TO CLOSE SOME LOOPHOLES.

SOME OF THEM HAVE REALLY GOOD IDEAS HOW TO DO THAT, AND MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHERS ARE NOT SO GOOD OF IDEAS.

>> IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH DEMOCRATS ARE CHARGING THIS, CRITICS ARE SAYING IT AS WELL, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING NOW BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP DID NOT WIN THE STATE.

IS THIS WHAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES?

>> THAT IS REALLY MISINFORMATION.

I HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE 11 YEARS NOW.

AND FROM THE FIRST YEAR I WAS DOWN HERE, SIMILAR BILLS HAVE BEEN DROPPED.

>> WHEN DEMOCRATS CALL THESE VOTER SUPPRESSION BILLS AND IT COULD BE VOTER SUPPRESSION LAWS, HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> I THINK THAT'S AN INACCURATE STATEMENT, BECAUSE IF WE SAY, GEE, IF YOU SHOW UP TO THE POLLS, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOUR ID TO MAKE SURE YOU REALLY ARE JOHN SMITH, THEY DON'T EVEN WANT ANYONE TO HAVE TO SHOW ID.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

IF YOU WANT TO OPEN UP A BANK ACCOUNT OR CASH A CHECK, YOU HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE, WHAT IS THE CONCERN TO SHOW YOUR ID TO VOTE.

>> WELL, THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW AS IT STANDS IS STRONG.

IT'S SOLID.

IT'S ACCURATE, AND IT'S SECURE.

WHY MESS WITH IT?

>> BECAUSE WE HAVE 75 BALLOTS GOING TO A VACANT LOT.

WE HAVE 25 BALLOTS GOING TO A TWO-PERSON HOME AND THE LIST GOES ON, SO OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SOME PROBLEMS.

>> IT IS WORTH LOSING VOTERS TO ADDRESS THOSE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS?

>> THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM IS ABOVE ALL.

WHAT GOOD IS THE ELECTION IF WE DON'T HAVE INTEGRITY BEHIND IT.

>> ARE YOU SAYING, THOUGH, WHEN THE BALLOTS GO OUT TO A CERTAIN SPOT, THAT THERE AREN'T POSITIONS AND SITUATIONS IN CHECK HERE AT A LATER SPOT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T GET THE EXTRA VOTES.

I MEAN, AREN'T THOSE PRECAUTIONS ALREADY IN PLACE?

>> NOT ALL.

THOSE BALLOTS THAT GO TO AN EMPTY LOT, IF YOU WILL, THE REALITY IS THAT THERE IS SOMEBODY THERE TO GET THEM, NOW SOMEBODY HAS THEIR HANDS ON 75 BALLOTS.

WHAT THEY DO WITH THOSE BALLOTS IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DO THEY THROW THEM AWAY?

THE 25 BALLOTS THAT WENT TO A HOME.

A LOT OF THEM ARE JUST THROWING THEM AWAY, SOME PEOPLE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THEM.

MATTER OF FACT, ONE OF THE BILLS IS REQUIRING PEOPLE TO RETURN THEM.

DON'T THROW THEM AWAY.

IF YOU GET A BALLOT THAT DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU, PLEASE SEND IT BACK SO WE KNOW THAT BALLOT SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF OF THE ROLLS FOR THAT ADDRESS AT LEAST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE CAN'T LET YOU GO WITHOUT GETTING AN UPDATE ON THE MARICOPA COUNTY FORENSIC AUDIT.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS STILL NEEDED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND LET ME EXPLAIN WHY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT ALL OF US LEGISLATURES DOWN HERE, WE ARE GETTING THOUSANDS OF EMAILS -- AND I MEAN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS EVERY SINGLE DAY, OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY DON'T TRUST YOUR SYSTEM ANYMORE.

THERE'S MISINFORMATION OUT THERE, THERE ARE QUESTIONS OUT THERE, AND IF WE HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY THAT HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR SYSTEM, IT IS OUR JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THOSE ANSWERS AND SAY, LOOK, IT IS PERFECTLY SECURE AND FINE.

IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY AND FIX IT.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS ALREADY?

>> NOT ACCORDING TO THE EMAILS.

>> ALREADY, SENATOR FANN, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT: COULD YOU BE FIRED IF YOU REFUSE A COVID VACCINATION?

>>> THERE ARE NOW THREE FULLY APPROVED AND WIDELY DISTRIBUTED COVID-19 VACCINES, BUT WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS?

WE ASKED JEFF BRODIN OF BRODIN HR LAW.

JEFF, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WHAT -- WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS FOR EMPLOYEES REGARDING VACCINES?

>> WELL THE FIRST THING TO LOOK AT IS WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE EMPLOYER, BECAUSE THAT WHAT LAWS APPLY DEPEND UPON THE SIZE OF THE EMPLOYER.

SO IF IT IS A EMPLOYER OF UNDER 15 EMPLOYEES, THE EMPLOYER IS PRETTY MUCH FREE TO DO WHAT THEY FEEL THEY SHOULD DO.

BUT ACTS PROVIDE EMPLOYER WITH MORE THAN 15 EMPLOYEES TO OBJECT IF SAY THEY HAVE A DISABILITY OR A RELIGIOUS BELIEF THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM GETTING A VACCINE, AND IT HAS TO BE A SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

>> BUT, AGAIN, AN EMPLOYER CAN REQUIRE WORKERS TO GET VACCINATED WITH THOSE EXCEPTIONS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

THE EEOC HAS NOT SPECIFICALLY COME OUT ON COVID, BUT THEY HAVE IN THE PAST WITH THE SWINE FLU IN '09.

SO IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NOT SPECIFICALLY BEEN STATED, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR IT WILL BE REQUIRED.

AND I WOULD SAY THE CDC WILL PROBABLY GO SO FAR AS TO SAY SOME EMPLOYER SHOULD REQUIRE VACCINATIONS OF ALL EMPLOYEES.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT A WORKER WHO JUST SAYS I DON'T THINK VACCINES ARE SAFE.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ONE?

>> WELL, THERE IS NO PROTECTION FOR THAT.

THE PERSON CAN BE REQUIRED TO TAKE ONE OR LOSE THEIR JOB.

I THINK MOST EMPLOYERS, PARTICULARLY IN A TRANSITION, THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE RISE TO BE A LITTLE MORE OPEN ABOUT IT, AND ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO WORK AT HOME OR WORK IN THE OFFICE WITH MASKS.

IN THE PAST IT HAS BEEN COMMON FOR HEALTH CARE SETTINGS TO ALLOW THEIR WORKERS TO WEAR MASKS IF THEY OBJECTED TO GETTING THE VACCINES, SO TAKING THAT TYPE OF AN APPROACH, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT LEGALLY REQUIRES, IT IS PROBABLY A SMART MOVE.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS LIKE -- JUST ANOTHER SAFETY MEASURE.

>> IT IS.

AND IT ALSO THEN KICKS IN FROM BOTH SIDES.

IF AN EMPLOYEE WERE TO OBJECT TO THE FLU SHOT FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, SAYING THAT VACCINES IN GENERAL AREN'T SAFE, OR IF TWO OR MORE EMPLOYEES OBJECTED, THEIR SAFETY CONCERNS ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT AND UNDER OSHA, SO THE EMPLOYER CAN'T RETALIATE AGAINST THEM, BUT THEY CAN STILL REQUIRE THEM TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> CAN A WORKER SAY, I'M NOT COMING BACK TO WORK UNLESS EVERYONE IS VACCINATED?

>> THAT WOULD BRING UP SAFETY -- THE PERSON WOULD BE SAYING IT'S NOT SAFE FOR ME TO COME BACK, UNTIL YOU HAVE EVERYONE VACCINATED.

AND THE EMPLOYER CAN COME BACK AND SAY WE INSTITUTED CDC SAFETY MEASURES WITH MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, SO IT IS SAFE, AND THEN AN EMPLOYEE COULD BE DISCIPLINED FOR NOT COMING IN.

AND SOME EMPLOYERS THAT MAY BE A SMART STEP APPROACH TO THIS, TO START WITH VACCINES AND THEN KEEP SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

>> SO EMPLOYERS ARE THEY LIABLE IF THEY DON'T MANDATE SHOTS?

>> IF -- THEY WOULDN'T BE LIABLE FOR NOT MANDATING SHOTS IF THEY ARE TAKING OTHER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, BASICALLY KEEPING THE WORKPLACE SAFE.

SO WHAT ARE THE CDC GUIDELINES OR WHAT IS A SAFE WORKPLACE.

THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE AND HAS CHANGED AS THIS THING HAS ROLLED OUT.

IT WILL BE UP TO EMPLOYER TO SAY WHAT IS SAFE?

AND IF THEY WERE TO SAY THAT ALL EMPLOYER SHOULD REQUIRE SHOTS -- AND WE MAY SEE THAT IN MEAT PACKING PLANTS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

>> LET'S SAY THINK EMPLOYER MANDATES SHOTS, AND THE WORKER GETS THE SHOT AND HAS A BAD REACTION, WHO PAYS?

>> IT WOULD LIKELY BE THE EMPLOYER.

>> JEFF BRODIN OF BRODIN HR LAW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> MANY TEACHERS HAVE FOUND THAT VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GET KIDS INSPIRED TO LEARN, BUT VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS CAN CHANGE ALL OF THAT.

OUR RICK DEBRUHL LEARNED MORE FROM CANDACE GREEN, AN ART TEACHER IN THE ALHAMBRA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC FOR THE LAST YEAR HAS REQUIRED A LOT OF CREATIVITY IN EVERY BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION, AND NOWHERE IS THAT MORE TRUE THAN IN THE CLASSROOM.

IN THE ALHAMBRA SCHOOL DISTRICT, THERE IS AN ART TEACHER WHO HAS COME UP WITH A CREATIVE WAY TO KEEP KIDS INVOLVED.

I UNDERSTAND YOU CAME UP WITH VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT IDEA?

>> IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IT WAS HARD TO GET MY STUDENTS SHOW UP VIRTUALLY AND TURN IN ART PROJECTS.

WHEN I WAS TEACHING IN MY ONLINE CLASSROOM, I WOULD JUST BE TALKING TO MYSELF.

THEY WOULDN'T RESPOND TO ME.

THEY WOULDN'T TYPE IN THE CHAT.

THEY WOULDN'T TURN ON THEIR CAMERAS, AND I BARELY GOT ANY WORK TURNED IN.

SO I LOVE FIELD TRIPS.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE THING AS A TEACHER TO DO.

I WRITE A LOT OF GRANTS EACH YEAR AND TAKE STUDENTS ON SEVERAL FIELD TRIPS, SO I KNEW I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> AND HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS IT?

>> IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

SO WHAT I DID WAS I DECIDED IF WE WERE GOING TO STAY OUT FOR SECOND QUARTER, I WAS GOING TO TRY LIVE VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS.

SO I WENT TO THE CAFE AND BROUGHT MY LAPTOP AND TALKED ABOUT THE MURALS AND THE KIDS LOVE IT.

AND NOW I HAVE 99% ATTENDANCE.

THEY ASK QUESTIONS.

THEY TURN IN SO MUCH WORK, THAT I HAVE STUDENTS THAT HAVE 400% AS A GRADE, BECAUSE THEY LOVE DOING EXTRA CREDIT, AND IT HAS BEEN AMAZING.

>> TALK ABOUT THE PLACES YOU HAVE GONE ON THESE FIELD TRIPS.

I UNDERSTAND ITS HAS BEEN ALL THE OVER ARIZONA, CORRECT?

>> YES.

I STARTED AT THE BARRIO CAFE FIRST.

AND THEN I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO VENTURE TO TUCSON.

I DID THE TUCSON ART MUSEUM.

THE TUCSON DESERT ART MUSEUM.

THE TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS.

I HAVE BEEN TO THE GRAND CANYON, THE PAINTED DESERT, SEDONA A FEW TIMES.

JUST ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE THAT I CAN GO AND BE SAFE AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED AND THE KIDS ARE GOING TO LOVE.

>> IS ONE OR TWO THAT WERE THEIR FAVORITES.

>> THERE IS A GALLERY THAT THE KIDS REALLY CONNECTED WITH HIS ART.

IT'S VERY PEACEFUL.

IT'S VERY MEDITATIVE.

IT HAS A LOT OF SYMBOLS IN IT, AND THE KIDS ACTUALLY ASKED TO GO THERE AGAIN, SO I HAVE GONE THERE TWICE, AND IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FIELD TRIP, BECAUSE TO HEAR JUNIOR HIGH BOYS TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE MEDITATING NOW, AND HOW THEY FELT AT PEACE LOOKING AT HIS ART IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND TOUCHING, AND THE GRAND CANYON TOO, WAS -- TO -- TO EXPERIENCE THAT WITH MY STUDENTS AND I EVEN GOT UP REALLY EARLY ONE MORNING, AND SOME OF MY EIGHTH GRADERS JOINED ME, AND WE WATCHED THE SUNRISE.

>> I UNDERSTAND SOME OTHER TEACHERS HAVE BEEN GETTING INSPIRATION AND DOING VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS AS WELL, CORRECT?

>> YES.

I WORK WITH A LOT OF ART TEACHERS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE, SO THEY ALL KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, SO A FEW OF THOSE TEACHERS HAVE STARTED TO DO THEIR OWN VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS AND GO AND SEE THE MURALS AROUND THE VALLEY, SOME HAVE GONE TO CALIFORNIA, HAD THE KIDS PAINT THE BEACH, SO IT IS REALLY GREAT THAT THEY ARE TAKING THAT INITIATIVE.

>> CANDACE GREEN CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING AN INNOVATOR DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT AS YOU ARE GOING BACK TO THE CLASSROOM, THAT YOU NEED SUPPLIES, AND I IMAGINE THEY CAN JUST REACH OUT TO YOU AT THE ALHAMBRA SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

CONGRATULATIONS ON DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE LATEST ON A CAMPAIGN TO GET MORE PUBLIC FUNDING TO LATINO COMMUNITIES, AND ON AND ON BREAK IT DOWN: HOW TO INCORPORATE MINDFULNESS INTO THE WORKPLACE.