REFERENCE TITLE: grants; invasive vegetation eradication.

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fourth Legislature

First Regular Session

2019

 

 

SB 1450

 

Introduced by

Senators Kerr: Allen S, Otondo, Pratt; Representatives Dunn, Osborne

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending section 17‑471, Arizona Revised Statutes; appropriating monies; relating to the wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement fund.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


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

Section 1.  Section 17-471, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE17-471.  Wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement fund; commission duties; grants; report

A.  The wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations for specific wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement projects and nonnative vegetative invasive species eradication projects.  Monies in the fund are subject to legislative appropriation and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.  On notice from the director of the Arizona game and fish department, the state treasurer shall invest and divest monies in the fund as provided in section 35-313 and monies earned from investment shall be credited to the fund.

B.  The commission shall:

1.  Monitor and have oversight of oversee specific projects for which the legislature appropriates monies to the wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement fund.

2.  If necessary, change the priority of appropriated projects under its oversight, but any change in priority shall be is subject to approval of the commission at a public hearing.

3.  Provide grants to cities, towns, counties, indian tribes and other political subdivisions of this state for nonnative vegetative invasive species eradication projects that will assist in preventing fire and flooding, conserving water and restoring habitat to threatened and endangered species. grants awarded pursuant to this paragraph shall be awarded in accordance with title 41, chapter 24.  A grant recipient shall follow state and federal laws to preserve endangered species when implementing the nonnative vegetative invasive species eradication project.

3.  4.  Submit a semiannual report on the work, goals, objectives and funding of the wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement fund to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the chairpersons of the senate and house of representatives appropriations committees and provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state and the director of the Arizona state library, archives and public records. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Appropriation; wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement fund; invasive species eradication grants

The sum of $15,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019‑2020 to the wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement fund established by section 17‑471, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, to provide grants for nonnative vegetative invasive species eradication projects.