ARIZONA STATE SENATE

ILSE CONTRERAS

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH INTERN

KATHI KNOX

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & WATER COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926 -3171

Facsimile: (602) 926 -3833

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & WATER COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 1, 2018

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1182, relating to irrigation and water conservation districts; membership

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Purpose

Modifies irrigation and water conservation districts (Districts) board membership.

Background

Statute allows Districts to organize when a majority of title owners in designated areas desire to irrigate the lands (A.R.S.§48-2901). For election purposes, Districts are divided into three separate divisions. Each division is required to be as nearly equal in size as practicable (A.R.S. § 48-2913).

Current statute allows Districts with more than 10,000 acres of land to have three board members and two directors at large. The board members are a representative from each division in the District. A District may only increase its membership to have six board members with three directors at large (A.R.S. § 48-2914.01).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Allows Districts with more than 10,000 acres of land and five board members to provide for the election of one additional director from each District.

2. Reduces, from two to one, the number of at large directors for a District.

3. Requires members terms to be staggered so that no more than one director from each division is elected in one year.

4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.