Senate Engrossed House Bill

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fiftieth Legislature Second Regular Session 2012

HOUSE BILL 2438

 

AN ACT

 

Establishing a joint legislative study committee on government and private lands; making an appropriation; relating to property status.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

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

Section 1.  Joint legislative study committee on government and private lands; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The joint legislative study committee on government and private lands is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Three members of the senate, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party, who are appointed by the president of the senate.

2.  Three members of the house of representatives, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party, who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

B.  The committee is formed to examine the consequences of the transfer of real property from private parties to government entities.

C.  The committee shall:

1.  Conduct hearings to evaluate the practice and impact of government entities' acquisition of private property.

2.  Review the historical tax assessments on a sampling of acquisitions of private real property.

3.  Examine the frequency and circumstances of government acquisition of private real property.

4.  Consider ways to ensure that government acquisition of real property that is conducted according to law and appropriately can continue.

5.  Identify the appropriate entity or entities to administer and review recording, tracking and reporting tax-supported government acquisitions.

6.  Submit a report regarding the committee's activities and recommendations on or before December 31, 2012 to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

D.  This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2013.

Sec. 2.  Property status study; report

A.  The department of revenue shall contract pursuant to section 11‑952, Arizona Revised Statutes, with each county assessor to conduct a property status study identifying:

1.  The total amount of private property within each county.

2.  The amount of private property within each county that is tax exempt.

3.  The amount of private property within each county that is in conservation status, such as land trusts, environmental organizations, habitats, open spaces and conservation easements.

4.  The amount of federally held lands in wilderness areas, natural conservation areas, national parks, national monuments and other special conservation status areas, if available to the county.

5.  The amount of municipal and county held lands in parks, conservation areas or other special conservation status areas.

B.  The department shall report the results of the study to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on or before December 31, 2013, and provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.

Sec. 3.  Reversion; appropriation; county employees

A.  Notwithstanding Laws 2007, chapter 255, section 104, the monies remaining in the fiscal year 2007-2008 appropriation to the Arizona department of water resources for upper San Pedro water district technical assistance revert to the state general fund.

B.  The sum of $132,213 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2012-2013 to the department of revenue to pay the cost of employees in each county assessor's office for not more than six months for the purposes provided in this act.  In addition, all monies remaining unencumbered or unexpended on June 30, 2013 revert to the state general fund.

Sec. 4.  Delayed repeal

This act is repealed from and after December 31, 2013.