State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

HB 2608: dam safety study committee

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Griffin, LD 14

BILL STATUS: House Engrossed

 

 

 

Overview

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteEstablishes the Dam Safety Study Committee (Study Committee).

History

A.R.S. § 45-1201 defines a dam as any artificial barrier for the impounding or diversion of water that either: 1) is at least 25 feet in height; or 2) will have storage capacity of at least 50 acre-feet (AF). This definition of dam does not include: 1) a barrier that is less than six feet in height, regardless of storage capacity; 2) a barrier that has a storage capacity of 15 AF, regardless of height; 3) a barrier for the purpose of controlling liquid-borne material; 4) a barrier that is a release-contained barrier; and 4) a barrier that is owner, controlled, operated, maintained, or managed by the federal government if a safety program that is at least as stringent as the State safety program applies and is enforced.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has an Interagency Committee on Dam Safety that primarily functions to encourage the establishment and maintenance of effective federal programs and policies as well as guidelines to enhance dam safety and security, such as the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety (FEMA).

Provisions

1.       Establishes the Study Committee required to consider and collect information on the status of dams in Arizona with respect to their safety, age and need for maintenance. (Sec. 1)

2.       Outlines Study Committee membership as follows:

a.       Four members from the appropriate Legislative committees, consisting of two members of different political parties appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two members of different political parties appointed by the President of the Senate;

b.       The Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, or their designee;

c.        One person representing a county flood control district from a county with a population of more than 2 million persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

d.       One person representing a county flood control district from a county with a population of less than 2 million persons appointed by the President of the Senate. (Sec. 1)

3.       Specifies that one of the appointed members from each the House of Representatives and Senate will serve as co-chairs. (Sec. 1)

4.       Requires the Study Committee to submit a report of its findings to the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate and Secretary of State by December 31, 2019. (Sec. 1)

5.       Prohibits Study Committee members from receiving compensation other than expense reimbursement. (Sec. 1)

6.       Repeals the Study Committee on July 1, 2020. (Sec. 1)

 

 

 

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Fifty-fourth Legislature                               HB 2608

First Regular Session                    Version 3: House Engrossed

 

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