REFERENCE TITLE: public lands; federal government; study

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fourth Legislature First Regular Session 2019

HB 2557

Introduced by Representatives Finchem: Bolick, Griffin, Payne, Toma, Weninger, Senators Leach, Livingston

 

AN ACT

 

Establishing the Joint study committee on Forgone Tax revenue from public lands held by the federal government; appropriating monies.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

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

Section 1.  Joint study committee on forgone tax revenue from public lands held by the federal government; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The joint study committee on forgone tax revenue from public lands held by the federal government is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Three members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party.  The president of the senate shall designate one member as cochairperson.

2.  Three members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one member as cochairperson.

3.  A representative of an association of cities and towns who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

4.  A representative of an association of counties who is appointed by the president of the senate.

B.  Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

C.  The committee shall meet on the call of the cochairpersons to review the fiscal impact to this state by the federal government's failure to make payments in lieu of taxes that are equivalent to the property tax revenue that this state would generate but for federal control of public lands in this state.

D.  The committee shall:

1.  Provide a forum for persons to express their concerns about public lands held by the federal government in this state and the federal government's failure to make payments in lieu of taxes to this state, including the impact of the federal government's failure to make payments in lieu of taxes on the state's ability to fund education and protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of its residents.

2.  Subject to legislative appropriation, conduct a comprehensive inventory and appraisal of public lands held by the federal government in this state.  The committee may procure the services of a qualified appraiser to conduct the inventory and appraisal.

3.  Make administrative and legislative recommendations about public lands held by the federal government in this state and possible future payments in lieu of taxes.

4.  Prepare and electronically submit a written report on its findings and recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on or before December 31, 2021 and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

E.  The committee may use the services of legislative staff.

F.  This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2022.

Sec. 2.  Procurement code; exemption

For the purposes of this act, the joint study committee on forgone tax revenue from public lands held by the federal government established by section 1 of this act is exempt from the procurement code requirements of title 41, chapter 23, Arizona Revised Statutes.

Sec. 3.  Appropriation; joint study committee on forgone tax revenue from public lands held by the federal government; comprehensive inventory and appraisal; exemption

A.  The sum of $1,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-2020 to the joint study committee on forgone tax revenue from public lands held by the federal government established by section 1 of this act for the purposes of this act, including conducting a comprehensive inventory and appraisal of public lands held by the federal government in this state.

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.