ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: APPROP DP 10-5-0-0


HB 2815: environment; 2023-2024

Sponsor: Representative Livingston, LD 28

House Engrossed

Overview

Contains provisions relating to the environment needed to implement the FY 2024 budget.

History

The Arizona Legislature adopts a budget for each fiscal year (FY) that contains general appropriations. Article IV, Section 20, Part 2 of the Constitution of Arizona, requires the General Appropriations Act (feed bill) to contain only appropriations for the different state departments, state institutions, public schools and interest on public debt. Statutory changes necessary to reconcile the appropriations made in the feed bill and other changes are drafted into separate budget bills. These bills are prepared according to subject area.

Provisions

Hazard Mitigation Revolving Fund (Mitigation Fund)

1.   Creates the Mitigation Fund that consists of legislative appropriations and federal monies and that is administered by the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. (Sec. 1)

2.   Specifies that Mitigation Fund monies are continuously appropriated and may be used in FYs 2024-2028 in accordance with federal guidelines. (Sec. 1)

3.   Repeals the Mitigation Fund on July 1, 2028. (Sec. 2)

Fire Incident Management Fund (Incident Fund) (Session Law)

4.   Establishes the Incident Fund  for FY 2024 to consist of legislative appropriations that are continuously appropriated.

5.   Requires the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) to administer the Incident Fund. (Sec. 3)

6.   Prohibits the Arizona Department of Administration from using more than $200,000 appropriated to the Fire Incident Management Fund (Fund) to administer the Fund. (Sec. 3)

7.   Requires the Incident Fund to provide grants to municipal fire departments and fire districts for hardware and software that:

a)   enables the statewide deployment of a secure incident management platform to fire and law enforcement agencies;

b)   provides a standardized incident command and management platform based on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards that enable diverse incident management and support entities to work together; and

c)   provides a collaboration and communications solutions. (Sec. 3)

8.   Specifies that the standardized incident command and management platform ensure the following:

a)   a clearly defined chain of command;

b)   the use of common terminology;

c)   the safety of first responders and others;

d)   the achievement of response objectives; and

e)   the efficient use of resources. (Sec. 3)

9.   Requires the collaboration and communication solutions to:

a)   identify the location, status and assignment of assigned resources;

b)   allow status updates, tracking and management of an incident;

c)   allow secure messaging and file sharing to all users involved in an incident;

d)   allow the sharing of collaborative maps, building floor plans and images between public safety agencies;

e)   allow collaboration and information sharing between agencies during a mass casualty event;

f) define a FEMA or National Incident Management Systems-based organizational structure for the management of incidents;

g)   provide the ability to print forms for tracking and cost reimbursement;

h)   provide telemetry-based firefighter safety monitoring;

i)   works in areas without internet access in a disconnected mode;

j)   provide a connected platform for notification, response and rostering;

k)   provide cross-platform functionality; and

l)   provide a smartphone-based app for notification, accountability and situational awareness. (Sec. 3)

10.  Allows each fire district or municipal fire department in Arizona to submit a grant request to ADOA for the costs of the secure incident management system. (Sec. 3)

11.  Instructs ADOA to award grants on a first-come, first-served basis. (Sec. 3)

12.  Requires awarded grants to fully fund the costs of the secure incident management system for each fire district or municipal fire department for three years. (Sec. 3)

Arizona Water Protection Fund (AWPF) (Session Law)

13.  Authorizes the AWPF Commission to grant to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) up to $336,000 of the unobligated balance in AWPF for ADWR administrative costs in FY 2024. (Sec. 4)

Underground Storage Tank Revolving Fund (USTR Fund) (Session Law)

14.  Authorizes the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to use up to $6,531,000 from the USTR Fund in FY 2024 for ADEQ administrative costs and to remediate sewage discharge issues in Naco and other border areas of Arizona. (Sec. 5)

Arizona Navigable Stream Adjudication Commission (Commission) (Session Law)

15.  Allows monies appropriated to the Commission from the Arizona Water Banking Fund to be used to pay legal fees in FY 2024. (Sec. 6)

Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF) (Session Law)

16.  Limits to $15,000,000 the amount of corporate income tax monies transferred to the WQARF in FY 2024. (Sec. 7)

Vehicle Emission Testing Fees (Session Law)

17.  Directs the ADEQ Director to charge vehicle emissions testing fees in FY 2024 that do not exceed the fees charged in FY 2023 for testing in Area A. (Sec. 8)

18.  Exempts  ADEQ from rulemaking requirements until July 1, 2024 for setting vehicle emissions testing fees. (Sec. 8)

 

 

Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) Fees (Session Law)

19.  Authorizes ADA to continue, with the assistance of the ADA Advisory Council, to increase or lower existing fees charged in FYs 2022 and 2023 for services provided in FY 2024. (Sec. 9)

20.  States that the Legislature intends that for FY 2024, the additional revenue generated from ADA fees do not exceed:

a)   $218,000 to the GF

b)   $113,000 to the Pesticide Trust Fund; and

c)   $26,000 to the Dangerous Plants, Pests and Diseases Trust Fund. (Sec. 9)

21.  Exempts the ADA from rulemaking requirements until July 1, 2024 for setting fees. (Sec. 9)☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)	     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes)	☐ Fiscal Note

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24.  ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

25.                    HB 2815

26.  Initials BSR           Page 0 House Engrossed

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28.  ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------