ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: NREW DPA 7-2-0-0 | 3rd Read 16-14-0-0 House: GE DPA 7-6-0-0

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SB 1431: flood control districts; advisory board

Sponsor:  Senator Ugenti-Rita, LD 23

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires a county flood control district (flood district) board of directors to appoint a citizens' flood control advisory board (citizen board). Reduces the board's size and changes the criteria for appointing members.

History

Each county must organize a flood control district, which is a political taxing subdivision established to:

· Construct and operate flood control works and storm drainage facilities;

· Regulate floodplains;

· Construct and maintain artificial groundwater recharge facilities; and

· Implement related flood control measures (A.R.S. §§ 48-3602 and 48-3603).

The county board of supervisors serve as the district's board of directors and can appoint a citizen board. The citizen board studies the flood district's flood control, floodplain regulation, water drainage and water conservation and provides informational reports and non-binding recommendations to the flood district. It consists of seven members:

· Five members are resident taxpayers and qualified electors of the district;

· The city engineer of the largest city in the district is an ex-officio member; and

· Chief engineer or manager for a major irrigation or agricultural improvement is an ex-officio member (A.R.S. §§ 48-3602 and 48-3611).

Provisions

1. Requires, instead of allows, a flood district board of directors to appoint citizen board. (Sec. 1)

2. Decreases the size of the citizen board from seven to six members. (Sec. 1)

3. Instructs each member of a flood district's board of directors to appoint one of the five voting members of the citizen board. (Sec. 1)

4. Mandates that at least three appointees must reside in the same city as the director who appoints them. (Sec. 1)

5. Prohibits city or town employees from serving on a citizen board. (Sec. 1)

6. States that the sixth member of the citizen board is a non-voting advisory member. (Sec. 1)  

7. Stipulates that the advisory member of the citizen board must be the chief engineer or manager of a major irrigation or agricultural improvement district — or their representative. (Sec. 1)

8. Directs the citizen board to meet at least quarterly. (Sec. 1)

9. Mandates that the citizen board have access to the flood district's budget information and to make budget recommendations. (Sec. 1)

10. Instructs the citizen board to meet with the flood district board of directors at least annually in a public meeting. (Sec. 1)

11. States that current members of a citizen board may continue to serve until the end of their normal terms. (Sec. 3)

12. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1 and 2)

Amendments

Committee on Government and Elections

1. Clarifies that only counties with a population of over 1.5 million people must appoint a citizen board.

2. Makes technical and conforming changes.

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                        SB 1431

Initials PAB/NM          Page 0 Caucus & COW

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