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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: NREW DP 7-3-0-0 |
HB 2117: natural resource conservation board; fund
Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 19
Caucus & COW
Overview
Moves disbursement authority of the Environmental Special Plate Fund (Fund) from the State Land Department (SLD) to the State Natural Resource Conservation Board (Board). Increases the amount the Board must annually distribute from the Fund to natural resource conservation districts (NRCDs) for education purposes. Amends the replacement appointee criteria for when a Board member's term as a NRCD supervisor expires.
History
Laws 2024, Chapter 258 established the Board and transferred authority over NRCDs from SLD to the Board. The Board is composed of members appointed by both the Governor and legislative leadership, some of whom are NRCD supervisors, along with representatives from SLD, the Arizona Department of Agriculture, the Game & Fish Department and the State Forester.
The Board coordinates Arizona's 32 NRCDs and 26 NRCD education centers by facilitating information sharing between NRCD supervisors, providing consultation services and requiring each NRCD to file annual audits. The Board also coordinates federal assistance for NRCDs and is required to provide grants to NRCDs and Tribal Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Currently, if a Board member's term as a NRCD supervisor expires, the Board member may not serve out the remainder of their term and the appointee to replace the Board member must be from the same geographic resource area (A.R.S. § 41-6011).
Provisions
1. Changes the disbursement authority of the Fund from the SLD to the Board. (Sec. 1)
2. Reassigns power to the Board to define from where members of Board are elected. (Sec. 2)
3. Increases, from $5,000 annually to not more than $10,000 annually, the amount the Board is required to distribute from the Fund to each NRCD with an established education center for the purpose of developing and implementing an environmental education program. (Sec. 3).
4. States that all who are serving as members of the Board on the effective date of this act may continue to serve until the expiration of their normal terms but that all subsequent appointments to the Board must be made as prescribed by the amended statute. (Sec. 4)
5. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 2)
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9. CW/GG HB 2117
10. 1/13/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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