Bill Text: AZ HB2541 | 2019 | Fifty-fourth Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: System conservation fund; appropriation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Failed) 2019-01-29 - House read second time [HB2541 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2019-HB2541-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: system conservation fund; appropriation. |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fourth Legislature First Regular Session 2019
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HB 2541 |
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Introduced by Representatives Bowers: Griffin
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AN ACT
amending title 45, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 45-118; repealing section 45-118, Arizona Revised Statutes; appropriating monies; relating to the department of water resources.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 45, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 45-118, to read:
45-118. Arizona system conservation fund; purpose; report
A. The Arizona system conservation fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations, grants and contributions from private and public entities. The director shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated for the purposes of THIS section. The director may spend monies from the fund to contract with Colorado River water users in this state that hold entitlements to Colorado River water under the decree in Arizona v. California to forgo water deliveries or diversions for the purpose of creating system conservation. Contracts entered into pursuant to this section are exempt from title 41, chapter 23.
B. System conservation created through the use of the fund shall provide for Colorado River water to be conserved in Lake Mead through a verified reduction in existing consumptive use in order to decrease the likelihood of lake elevations dropping to levels that could result in reductions to this state's Colorado River allocation. System conservation must be created for the benefit of the Colorado River system and not for the benefit of any individual Colorado River water user.
C. On notice from the director, the state treasurer shall invest and divest monies earned as provided by section 35-313, and monies earned from investment shall be credited to the fund. Monies in the fund are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.
D. Beginning July 1, 2021 and on July 1 each year thereafter, the director shall submit a detailed report to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state. The report shall describe the expenditures made from the fund during the previous fiscal year and the volume of water that was conserved in lake mead.
Sec. 2. Delayed repeal
Section 45-118, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, is repealed from and after March 31, 2027.
Sec. 3. Appropriation; Arizona system conservation fund; exemption
A. The sum of $30,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-2020 to the Arizona system conservation fund established by section 45-118, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.
B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.
Sec. 4. Emergency
This act is an emergency measure that is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative immediately as provided by law.
