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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: NREW DP 6-4-0-0 |
HB 2262: Arizona geological survey; analysis; division
Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 19
Caucus & COW
Overview
Transfers the Resource Analysis Division (Division) from the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) to the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS), creates guidelines to facilitate the transfer and outlines the powers and responsibilities of the Division.
History
Established in 1915, ASLD currently manages approximately 9.2 million acres of state trust lands. ASLD administers laws related to lands owned by, belonging to and under control of the state, which includes both trust land and sovereign land. ASLD also manages and controls the products and uses of state land including timber, stone, gravel, grazing and farming. The Division was established as a function of ASLD and manages Arizona's geospatial data and statewide geographic information system services. The State Land Commissioner (Commissioner) is the executive officer of ASLD (A.R.S. §§ 37-102, 37-173, 37-131)(ASLD).
The AZGS provides information to the public on geology and offers advice on using mineral and land resources in Arizona. Its responsibilities include: 1) mapping geologic features; 2) providing objective information about the geologic character of Arizona; 3) preparing data files with known earth fissures; and 4) maintaining a central database of reports, maps and other publications regarding Arizona's geology, mining and mineral resources. The State Geologist (Geologist) leads the AZGS, and the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) oversees AZGS (A.R.S. §§ 27-102, 27- 103, 27-106).
Provisions
1. Requires the Geologist to collaborate with ASLD to fulfill the duties of the Division and advise ASLD on request. (Sec. 3)
2. Allows the Geologist to engage the services of employees of the Division. (Sec. 3)
3. Expands the Geologist's access to resources to include ASLD data. (Sec. 3)
4. Stipulates that the Geologist must have reasonable access to data and resources of ASLD, the University of Arizona and any state university in Arizona for AZGS's work. (Sec. 3)
5. Directs the Geologist, on request of the Commissioner, to update maps and inventories of the aggregate resources on ASLD lands, including areas of aggregate resources discovered since the previous publication. (Sec. 4)
6. Transfers the Division from ASLD to AZGS. (Sec. 5)
7. Authorizes the Geologist, rather than the Commissioner, to appoint an administrator of the Division. (Sec. 5)
8. Requires the approval of the Geologist, rather than the Commissioner, for the administrator to hire employees necessary for the Division. (Sec. 5)
9. Allows the administrator to employ people as necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Division. (Sec. 5)
10. Authorizes ABOR to establish compensation for the Division's administrator and employees, based on the salaries of equivalent employees who are subject to statute regarding compensation for state officers and employees. (Sec. 5)
11. Replaces the Commissioner with the Geologist for the State Cartographer's Office and allows the Geologist to delegate the responsibilities of the State Cartographer to an administrative officer of the Division. (Sec. 5)
12. Directs monies received by the Division, other than appropriations, to be deposited by the administrator in the Geological Survey Fund. (Sec. 6)
13. Establishes the Arizona Geographic Information Council (Council) as a function of the AZGS, rather than of ASLD. (Sec. 7)
14. Requires the Council to advise the AZGS, rather than the Arizona State Cartographer's Office, on matters related to geospatial data sharing and strategies to support a geospatial clearinghouse and statewide geographic information system. (Sec. 7)
15. Includes AZGS in the list of producers of geospatial data to which the Council must prioritize user requirements. (Sec. 7)
16. Transfers unexpended and unencumbered monies in the Division's revolving fund to the Geological Survey Fund. (Sec. 8)
17. Stipulates that AZGS's Division succeeds to the authority, powers, duties and responsibilities of ASLD's Division. (Sec. 10)
18. Asserts that the act does not alter the effect of actions that were taken or impair the previously existing obligations of the ASLD's Division. (Sec. 10)
19. States that administrative rules and orders that were adopted by ASLD's Division are in effect until superseded by the administrative action by the AZGS's Division. (Sec. 10)
20. Transfers and retains the status of all administrative matters, contracts and judicial actions of ASLD's Division to the Division of the AZGS. (Sec. 10)
21. Asserts that any certificates, licenses, registrations, permits and other indications of qualification and authority issued by ASLD's Division retain their validity for the duration of their terms of validity. (Sec. 10)
22. Transfers all equipment, records, furnishings, other property, data, findings, obligations and unexpended and unencumbered appropriated monies from ASLD's Division to the AZGS's Division. (Sec. 10)
23. Transfers personnel under the state personnel system and employed by ASLD's Division to comparable positions and pay classifications in the respective administrative units of ASLD's Division. (Sec. 10)
24. Defines pertinent terms. (Sec. 2)
25. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec 1, 2, 4, 5, 7-9)
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29. Initials CW/IG HB 2262
30. 2/13/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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