Bill Text: AZ HB2581 | 2015 | Fifty-second Legislature 1st Regular | Engrossed
Bill Title: Prescribed burns liability study committee
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-03-03 - Referred to Senate RULES Committee [HB2581 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2015-HB2581-Engrossed.html
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House Engrossed |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015
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HOUSE BILL 2581 |
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AN ACT
Establishing the prescribed burn liability study committee.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Prescribed burn liability study committee; members; duties; report; delayed repeal
A. The prescribed burn liability study committee is established consisting of the following members:
1. Two members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who are members of different political parties. The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.
2. Two members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate and who are members of different political parties. The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.
3. The director of the department of insurance or the director's designee.
4. The director of environmental quality or the director's designee.
5. The state forester or the state forester's designee.
6. The state land commissioner or the commissioner's designee.
7. The chairperson of a statewide council on prescribed fires or the chairperson's designee.
8. One member who has experience with the insurance industry and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
9. One member who has experience with the livestock grazing industry and who is appointed by the president of the senate.
10. One person representing a private, nonprofit corporation that has experience in natural resources or ecosystems management and prescribed burns and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
11. One member of an agricultural improvement district established pursuant to title 48, chapter 17, Arizona Revised Statutes, and who is appointed by the president of the senate.
12. Three members, one each from Arizona state university, the university of Arizona and northern Arizona university, who specialize in natural resource management or natural sciences and who are appointed by the president of each member's respective university.
13. One member of the public who is appointed by the governor.
B. The cochairpersons shall be members of different political parties. The committee shall meet at the call of the cochairpersons.
C. The committee shall:
1. Collect information on the effectiveness of prescribed burns for fire fuels management, habitat improvement and watershed protection.
2. Examine existing liability requirements for the use of prescribed burns in this state.
3. Review insurance mechanisms and liability provisions in other states that allow for the use of prescribed burns on private land.
4. Determine what statutory changes are necessary in this state to allow prescribed burns to occur on private land.
D. The committee may:
1. Request information data and reports from any county or state agency or political subdivision of this state. If possible, information shall be provided electronically.
2. Hold hearings, conduct fact-finding tours and take testimony from witnesses who may assist the committee in fulfilling its responsibilities.
E. On request of the committee, an agency of this state shall provide to the committee its services, equipment, documents, personnel and facilities to the extent possible without cost to the committee.
F. The legislature shall provide staff and support services to the committee.
G. The committee shall meet at the state capitol or at other locations as the cochairpersons deem necessary or convenient, and all meetings shall be open to the public.
H. The members of the committee are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.
I. On or before December 31, 2015, the committee shall submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.
J. This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2016.
