Bill Text: AZ HB2536 | 2014 | Fifty-first Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Best land management practices; appropriation
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-10 - Referred to House APPROP Committee [HB2536 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2014-HB2536-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: best land management practices; appropriation |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature Second Regular Session 2014
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HB 2536 |
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Introduced by Representatives Otondo, Barton, Escamilla, Senator Griffin: Representatives Fann, Pratt, Shope, Tobin, Wheeler, Senator Pancrazi
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AN ACT
Amending title 37, chapter 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 20; making an appropriation; relating to best land management practices.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 37, chapter 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 20, to read:
ARTICLE 20. BEST LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
37-620.31. Best land management practices; specific area plans; public meetings
A. On or before January 1, 2016, the commissioner, in coordination with the state forester, shall develop and adopt best land management practices for state lands to decrease the severity of wildland fires. Criteria for developing best land management practices may include the information and considerations prescribed by section 37-622, subsection B, paragraph 1. Once developed, the commissioner and state forester shall identify and prioritize the state lands that would benefit the most from implementation of the best land management practices. In developing the best land management practices, the commissioner and state forester shall consult and may coordinate with:
1. Federal, state, local or tribal agencies.
2. Other interested parties, including members of the timber and agricultural industries, educational organizations, agricultural improvement districts or environmental or wildlife organizations.
B. The best land management practices must be used to develop a specific area plan for the identified state lands that would benefit the most from the best land management practices. Once a specific area plan is developed, the department shall hold at least two meetings to provide information to the public and to gather public comment before implementing the specific area plan. One of the public meetings must be held at the state capitol and the other in the county in which the specific area plan will be implemented.
C. To implement the best land management practices and the specific area plan on the identified state lands, the commissioner may coordinate and contract with public and private entities.
37-620.32. Best land management practices fund; exemption
A. The best land management practices fund is established consisting of monies appropriated by the legislature. Monies in the fund must be used for the planning, administration, development and implementation of best land management practices and specific area plans. The commissioner shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are subject to legislative appropriation.
B. On notice from the commissioner, the state treasurer shall invest and divest monies in the fund as provided by section 35-313, and monies earned from investment shall be credited to the fund.
C. The commissioner may accept and spend federal monies and private grants, gifts, contributions and devises to assist in carrying out the purposes of this article. These monies do not revert to the state general fund at the end of the fiscal year.
D. Monies in the fund are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.
Sec. 2. Appropriation; best land management practices fund
The sum of $20,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2014-2015 to the best land management practices fund established by section 37-620.32, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.
