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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
historic names board; establishment
Purpose
Reestablishes the State Board on Geographic and Historic Names (Board) and reinserts statutory Board authority and requirements. Modifies Board membership to require one of the members appointed by the Governor to be a current or former elected tribal official.
Background
Prior to January 1, 2021, statute outlined requirements, membership, powers and duties of the Board. The nine-member Board consisted of seven members appointed by the heads of specified state agencies and organizations and two members appointed by the Governor. The powers and duties of the Board included: 1) receiving and evaluating all proposals for changes or additions to names of geographic features and places of historical significance; 2) cooperating with political subdivisions to eliminate the duplication of the names of geographic features that are not of historical significance; and 3) receiving and evaluating all proposals to establish or designate a highway or area as a parkway, historic road or scenic road that is of geographic or historical significance in Arizona.
The Senate Government COR and House Government COR held a joint public meeting on January 9, 2020, to consider the Board's response to statutory sunset factors and receive public testimony. The CORs recommended that the Legislature continue the Board and State Library for eight years (COR minutes). The Board was terminated on July 1, 2020 without statutory continuation by the Legislature (A.R.S. § 41-3020.05).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Reestablishes the Board, consisting of:
a) one member appointed by the Director of the Department of Transporting;
b) one member appointed by the State Land Commissioner;
c) one member appointed by the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records;
d) one member appointed by the head of the Arizona Historical Society;
e) one member appointed by the head of the Arizona Commerce Authority;
f) one member appointed by the Director of the Department of Economic Security;
g) one member appointed by the head of a Geography Department of an Arizona University; and
h) two members appointed by the Governor.
2. Requires one of the members of the Board appointed by the Governor to be a current or former elected tribal official.
3. Reestablishes the statutory authority and requirements of the Board relating to:
a) the perpetuation of historical names;
b) membership, staffing, powers and duties;
c) changes in or additions of geographic features or places of historical significance;
d) the use of names chosen by the Board;
e) prohibitions on advertising or publishing a name without Board approval;
f) restrictions on the changes to historical names;
g) statutory designations relating to the Hoover Dam and Mogollon Rim; and
h) violations of Board statutes.
4. Terminates the Board on July 1, 2029.
5. Repeals statutory requirements relating to the Board on January 1, 2030.
6. Contains a purpose statement.
7. Makes technical and conforming changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 10, 2021
MH/gs