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

House Engrossed

Overview

Requires the county flood control district (flood district) board of directors for a county with over 1.5 million residents to appoint a citizens' flood control advisory board (citizen board). Reduces the citizen board's size and changes the criteria for appointing members to the board.

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).

Maricopa County is the only county with a population greater than 1.5 million.

Provisions

Citizen Boards

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

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

3. Establishes the following rules for appointing citizen board members:

a) Each member of a flood district's board of directors must appoint one resident taxpaying elector to the citizen board;

b) At least three of the five appointees must reside in the same city as the director who appoints them;

c) City or town employees from may not serve on a citizen board; and

d) The sixth member of the citizen board is a non-voting advisory member who must be the chief engineer or manager (or a designated representative) of a major irrigation or agricultural improvement district. (Sec. 1)

4. Requires the citizen board to meet with the flood district board of directors at least once annually. (Sec. 1)

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

6. Makes conforming changes to clarify that the aforementioned requirements only apply to counties with a population of over 1,500,000. (Sec. 1)

Miscellaneous

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

8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec 1)

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                        SB 1431

Initials PAB/NM          Page 0 House Engrossed

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