Senate Engrossed

appropriations; fire suppression.

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Special Session

2021

SENATE BILL 1001

AN ACT

appropriating monies to the Arizona department of forestry and fire management.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Supplemental appropriation; Arizona department of forestry and fire management; wildfire emergency response; reports; exemption

A. In addition to any other appropriations made in fiscal year 2020-2021, the sum of $75,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2020-2021 to the Arizona department of forestry and fire management for wildfire emergency response. The department may spend the monies for:

1. Fire suppression and pre-positioning of fire suppression equipment and staff.

2. Capital expenditures and equipment associated with fire suppression and pre-positioning activities for fire suppression.

3. Mitigation projects to address postfire flooding and other damage that may occur as a result of fires or fire suppression activities.

4. A state or local government agency's emergency liabilities related to emergency sheltering, wraparound services and support activities.

5. Financial assistance to public and private landowners for emergency repairs for infrastructure damage resulting from fires or fire suppression activities.

6. Reimbursement to a state agency or political subdivision for the state agency's or political subdivision's costshare of eligible claims arising from an emergency declared pursuant to section 35-192, Arizona Revised Statutes, or a federal declaration of emergency or major disaster.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant any monies allocated by the federal government for this purpose.  The department shall seek federal reimbursement as appropriate for expenditures made from this appropriation. Any reimbursements shall be credited to this appropriation.

C. The department may not spend more than a total of $10,000,000 of the appropriation made in subsection A of this section for state capital purposes pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section.

D. The department may not spend more than a total of $10,000,000 of the appropriation made in subsection A of this section for financial assistance to private landowners pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 5 of this section. The department shall distribute monies to landowners pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 5 of this section only as the payor of last resort after all other sources of payment, including any insurance and other reimbursements, have been exhausted.

E. Not later than fifteen days after the end of each month, the department shall report to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the joint legislative budget committee on expenditures from and reimbursements to the appropriation made in subsection A of this section for the prior month. Each report shall include, at a minimum, information regarding the total expenditures and reimbursements for each paragraph listed in subsection A of this section and the amount of monies remaining in the appropriation.

F. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.

Sec. 2. Supplemental appropriation; Arizona department of forestry and fire management; wildfire mitigation; exemption

A. In addition to any other appropriations made in fiscal year 2020-2021, the sum of $24,541,800 and 122 full-time equivalent positions are appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2020-2021 to the Arizona department of forestry and fire management for wildfire mitigation, to be allocated as follows:

1. $16,999,300 and 122 full-time equivalent positions for fire mitigation personnel and operating costs.

2. $3,910,000 for vehicle purchases.

3. $1,382,500 for vehicle operating costs.

4. $2,250,000 for contracted hazardous vegetation removal.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations through June 30, 2022.