|
REFERENCE TITLE: small water systems fund |
|
State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015
|
|
HB 2316 |
|
|
|
Introduced by Representatives Barton, Borrelli: Bowers, Pratt
|
AN ACT
amending section 49-355, Arizona Revised Statutes; making an appropriation; relating to water quality control.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 49-355, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
49-355. Small water systems fund; definition
A. A The small water systems fund is established in the department of environmental quality. On designation of the director of environmental quality, the fund may be administered by the water infrastructure finance authority of Arizona. The fund consists of monies appropriated by the legislature. Monies in the fund are exempt from lapsing under section 35‑190. Interest earned on monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
B. Monies from the small water systems fund shall be used to:
1. Develop public education and information programs for owners, operators and customers of small water systems.
2. Provide advice and assistance in managerial, accounting, engineering and other technical areas for owners and operators of small water systems.
3. Integrate and coordinate information databases among the government agencies involved in regulating small water systems.
4. Develop other programs which would benefit the owners, operators and customers of small water systems.
5. provide emergency grants to interim operators or interim managers of small water systems that are appointed by the Arizona corporation commission to repair or replace water infrastructure.
C. On recommendation of the Arizona corporation commission the water infrastructure finance authority of Arizona may approve a grant from the fund to an interim operator or an interim manager of a small water system pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 5 of this section only if the operator or manager demonstrates that it requires immediate financial assistance to replace, make repairs to or to rehabilitate the public water system infrastructure that is operated by the interim operator or manager in order to correct or avoid an interruption in water service.
D. For the purposes of this section, "small water system" means a public water system that serves five hundred or fewer connections.
Sec. 2. Appropriation; small water systems fund; exemption
A. The sum of $500,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2015-2016 to the small water systems fund established by section 49-355, Arizona Revised Statutes, for the purposes of providing emergency grants to small water systems.
B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.