ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HB 2580: grants; invasive vegetation eradication

NOW: appropriation; invasive vegetation eradication; grants

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Osborne, LD 13

BILL STATUS: House Engrossed

Overview

Establishes the Nonnative Vegetative Species Eradication Fund (Fund) and appropriates $5 million from the state General Fund (GF) to the Fund in FY 2020 and FY 2021.

History

Invasive plants are species that can blanket an area and crowd out native plants. The changes caused by invasive plants to the vegetation of an area can affect a species richness and abundance by removing food sources, shelter and nest sites for wildlife. Invasive plants can also alter water availability and soil chemistry (nps.gov).

In 1999, President Clinton established the National Invasive Species Council and defined an invasive species as an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause harm to the economy, environment or human health (Exec. Order 13112).

Provisions

1. Establishes the Fund for the purposes of funding specific nonnative vegetative invasive species eradication projects. (Sec. 1)

2. Appropriates $5 million from the state GF to the Fund in FY 2020 and FY 2021. (Sec. 2)

3. Requires the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management to:

a. Coordinate with the State Land Department on projects conducted on state trust lands;    

b. Coordinate with the Arizona Game and Fish Department on relevant projects;

c. Monitor and oversee related projects;

d. Provide grants to nonnative vegetative invasive species eradication projects to assist in fire and flood prevention, conservation of water and wildlife habitats and replacing nonnative vegetative species with native vegetative species;

e. Establish procedures to apply and qualify for grants; and

f. Submit a semiannual report on the work, goals, objectives and funding of the Fund to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the appropriate legislative committees. (Sec.1)

4. Requires all unencumbered monies remaining in the Fund on December 31, 2021 to revert to the state GF.  (Sec. 1)

5. Requires the State Treasurer, on notice from the State Forester, to invest and divest Fund monies and credit monies earned from investment to the Fund. (Sec.1)

6. Exempts Fund monies from lapsing. (Sec.1)

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10. Fifty-fourth Legislature                       HB 2580

11. First Regular Session                            Version 4: House Engrossed

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