Friday Wrap-Up: Bills Signed by Gov.

PHOENIX - Bills involving custom license plates, expressing religious beliefs in public schools, medical malpractice suits, tuition for discharged veterans, and election petition fraud were all signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer Friday.

Custom license plates

It's official -- only the Legislature now has authority to create new Arizona special license plates.

Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed into law a bill passed by the Legislature to repeal the state License Plate Commission.

That commission had been established in 1992 to determine the colors and designs of regular license plates and to decide whether to authorize special plates.

But the commission got entangled in a lawsuit that successfully challenged its refusal to approve a "choose life" plate sought by abortion opponents.

Meanwhile, the Legislature has continued to authorize numerous special plates.

Expressing religion in school

Public school students will have new rights to express religious viewpoints under the "Students Religious Liberties Act."

It prohibits schools from discriminating against students or parents on the basis of religious viewpoint or expressions.

Under the bill signed Friday, prayer and other religious activities are to be permitted "to the same extent that students may engage in nonreligious activities or expression."

The bill also requires that an administrative process be used to consider alleged violations prior to a lawsuit being filed.

Cutting down on medical malpractice suits

Arizona is making it harder to successfully sue emergency medical providers for alleged malpractice.

Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law a bill approved by the Legislature to raise the required burden of proof for claims of negligent care.

Republican Sen. Carolyn Allen of Scottsdale has said her bill should help encourage prospective emergency room doctors to decide to practice in Arizona.

Lawsuit plaintiffs' attorneys contend that the change would deprive Arizonans of the chance to recover damages.

Former Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed similar legislation in 2006 and the House narrowly rejected a 2007 version.

The new law takes effect on Sept. 30.

Discharged vets get tuition break

Military service members honorably discharged while serving at a military installation in Arizona will get a break on tuition at public universities and community colleges.

A bill signed into law deletes the current time of legal residency requirements that service members must meet to get in-state tuition status if they're discharged while assigned to an Arizona base.

It's unknown how much the law will cost the state. That's because it would depend on how many veterans respond to the new incentive.

Targeting petition fraud

Arizona is making it a crime to intentionally submit election petitions with the name of a person who did not actually sign the petition. That crime also includes tricking somebody to obtain signatures on petitions.

The bill is a response to allegations of petition fraud in recent elections, particularly with petitions to place initiative measures on the general election ballot.

Violations would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. However, a person convicted of hiring others to engage in petition fraud would be guilty of a felony punishable by a presumptive sentence of up to three years in prison.