Bill Text: AZ SB1242 | 2024 | Fifty-sixth Legislature 2nd Regular | Engrossed


Bill Title: Water conservation grant fund; purpose

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-03 - House Committee of the Whole action: Do Pass Amended [SB1242 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2024-SB1242-Engrossed.html

 

 

 

House Engrossed Senate Bill

 

ADWR; application; review; time frames

(now:  water conservation grant fund; purpose)

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

 

 

 

SENATE BILL 1242

 

 

 

 

An Act

 

amending sections 49-1332 and 49-1333, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the water conservation grant fund.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 49-1332, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE49-1332. Water conservation grant fund; purposes

A. Monies in the water conservation grant fund must facilitate voluntary water conservation programs or projects that are expected to result in at least one of the following:

1. Long-term reductions in water use.

2. Improvements in water use efficiency.

3. Improvements in water reliability.

B. Monies in the water conservation grant fund may be used for the following:

1. Education and research programs on how to reduce water consumption, increase water efficiency or increase water reuse.

2. Programs and projects for rainwater harvesting, gray water systems, efficiency upgrades, installing drought-resistant landscaping, turf removal and other practices to reduce water use.

3. Programs or projects to promote groundwater recharge and improved aquifer health.

4. Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.

5. Landscape watershed protection, restoration and rehabilitation, including through green infrastructure and low-impact development to conserve or augment water supplies.

6. Projects facilitating coordinated water management, including groundwater storage and recovery. 

7. Programs or projects to reduce structural water overuse issues.

8. Program implementation and administration costs for eligible programs.

9. Administration costs of the fund.

10. Increasing public AWARENESS of the fund.  For the purposes of THIS paragraph, each fiscal year the AUTHORITY may spend up to ten percent of INTEREST monies from the fund. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 49-1333, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE49-1333. Water conservation grant fund; procedures

A. In compliance with any applicable requirements, an eligible entity as defined in section 49-1301 may apply to the authority for and accept grants from the water conservation grant fund for a water conservation program or project that complies with the requirements of sections 49-1332 and 49-1334. A nongovernment organization that focuses on water conservation or environmental protection may apply to the authority for and accept grants from the water conservation grant fund for a water conservation program or project if it partners with an eligible entity as defined in section 49-1301.  a developer as defined in section 32-2101 may apply for and accept grants from the water CONSERVATION grant fund to install gray water systems.

B. The authority shall:

1. Prescribe a simplified form and procedure to apply for and approve assistance.

2. Establish by rule criteria that are consistent with this article by which assistance will be awarded.

3. Determine the order and priority of water conservation programs or projects assisted under this section based on the merits of the application with respect to the requirements of sections 49-1332 and 49-1334.

4. Provide that a single water conservation program grant may not exceed $3,000,000, a single water conservation project grant may not exceed $250,000 and at least a twenty-five percent match is required for each water conservation program or project.  Monies from any other source may satisfy the match requirement. END_STATUTE

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