Arizona lawmakers took the first steps Wednesday to keep their colleagues accused of sex crimes or harassment from buying silence from their victims.
The bill would make non-disclosure agreements unenforceable in cases where public dollars are used to pay off the victim. The measure is backed by Republican Rep. Maria Syms.
"If you want to settle the case with your own private dollars, that's just fine," Syms said. "But with public dollars, then there needs to be transparency and public disclosure."
Syms said she knows of no case where tax dollars were used in such a way.
Syms had sought to outlaw all non-disclosure agreements, but ran into opposition, which is why the measure addresses the use of public funds only.