AN ACT

amending title 49, chapter 1, ARTICLE 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by ADDING section 49-117; relating to the department of ENVIRONMENTAL quality.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.  Title 49, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 49-117, to read:

START_STATUTE49-117.  Greenhouse gases; reports; registry; reduction; report

A.  By January 1, 2008, the department shall establish a method for requiring producers of greenhouse gases to report the amount of greenhouse gases that they produce.  The reporting method shall collect information from affected entities individually and shall include information regarding amount and type of gases generated, type of source and other information deemed relevant by the department to developing a baseline measure of greenhouse gases produced in this state.

B.  The department may provide for a series of requirements that are phased in over a period of time and may provide for phasing in by producer sector, geographic area, size of producer and other factors.  The department shall apply reporting requirements to the departments, agencies, boards and commissions of this state and may establish an earlier schedule for state agency compliance than for private sector compliance.

C.  The department shall establish a greenhouse gas emissions registry for purposes of cooperating with other states in tracking, managing and crediting entities in this state that reduce their generation of greenhouse gases. 

D.  The department shall identify potential carbon sinks in this state and shall develop recommendations for reduction, removal or sequestration of carbon.

E.  This state shall reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases as follows:

1.  By January 1, 2020, to a level that is at least as low as its level of emissions in 2000.

2.  By January 1, 2040, to a level that is at least fifty per cent below its level of emissions in 2000.

F.  The department shall submit a report to the legislature each year on or before October 1 containing the greenhouse gas data it has collected in the preceding years. END_STATUTE