ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RACHEL ANDREWS

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH INTERN

KAITLYN NEFF

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & WATER COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY

                        & WATER COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 15, 2021

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1360, relating to task force; G&F; veterans; licenses

Purpose

            Establishes the nine-member Veterans' Assistance for Licensing Outdoor Recreation Task Force to make recommendations regarding hunting and fishing license fee reductions for veterans.

Background

            The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is charged with establishing policies and programs for the management, preservation, and harvest of Arizona's wildlife. The AZGFD issues licenses that regulate the amount of wildlife the individual can take and handle. Control of the department is vested in the game and fish commission which consists of five members, who are required to be well informed on the subject of wildlife and requirements for wildlife conservation (A.R.S. § 17-201).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Establishes the nine-member Task Force consisting of:

a) three members of the Senate, two of whom are appointed by the President of the Senate (President) and one of whom is appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

b) three members of the House of Representatives, two of whom are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Speaker) and one of whom is appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

c) the Director of the AZGFD or the Director's designee;

d) one representative of a statewide organization representing veterans who is appointed by the President; and

e) one representative of a statewide organization focusing on wildlife conservation or wildlife management who is appointed by the Speaker.

2. Requires the President and the Speaker to each designate one appointee from their respective chamber to serve as cochairpersons of the Task Force.

3. Requires all meetings of the Task Force to be open to the public.

4. Requires the Task Force to give reasonable notice of meetings and allow public testimony at every meeting.

5. Prohibits Task Force members from receiving compensation.

6. Requires the Task Force to make recommendations regarding hunting and fishing license fee reductions for veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

7. Allows the Task Force to use the staff of state agencies, including the legislature and the AZGFD, the state universities and nongovernmental entities for technical assistance and preparation of meeting presentations.

8. Requires the Task Force to submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President and the Speaker and provide a copy of this report to the Secretary of State by December 31, 2021.

9. Repeals the Task Force on July 1, 2022.