REFERENCE TITLE: natural resource protection fund

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-first Legislature

Second Regular Session

2014

 

 

SB 1268

 

Introduced by

Senator Pierce

 

 

AN ACT

 

Amending Title 37, chapter 2.1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 37-625; making an appropriation; relating to the state forester.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

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

Section 1.  Title 37, chapter 2.1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 37-625, to read:

START_STATUTE37-625.  Natural resource protection and preservation fund; appropriation; exemption

A.  The natural resource protection and preservation fund is established consisting of state monies for the protection and preservation of natural resources in this state.  The state forester shall administer the fund.  Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.  An amount sufficient for the balance of the fund to be at least ____ million dollars is appropriated from the state general fund on July 1 of each year. 

B.  Monies in the fund may be spent for the following:

1.  Hazardous fuel reduction.

2.  Forest thinning.

3.  Defensible space creation.

4.  Fuel reduction treatment.

5.  Other fire management activities to prevent and combat wildfires. 

C.  The state forester may use monies in the fund only when the following conditions exist:

1.  No appropriation or other authorization is available to meet the contingency or need.

2.  An appropriation is insufficient to meet the contingency or need.

3.  Federal monies available for the contingency or need require the use of state or other public monies.  END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Appropriation; natural resource protection and preservation fund

The sum of $___ is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2014-2015 to the natural resource protection and preservation fund established by section 37-625, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, for the purposes set forth in that section.