 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
endangered species conservation; confidential information
Purpose
Beginning January 1, 2021, deems information collected in an endangered species survey as confidential information. Prescribes requirements for collecting information and penalties for disclosure of confidential species information. Appropriates $450,000 in FY 2021 to the University of Arizona to conduct a statewide survey of endangered species in Arizona.
Background
Under the federal Endangered Species Act, an endangered species is any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, except certain species of insects. The Act directs the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to list a species as an endangered species based on any the following factors: 1) the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; 2) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; 3) disease or predation; 4) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or 5) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence (U.S. ESA).
S.B. 1666 appropriates $450,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2021.
Provisions
Collected Confidential Information (Effective January 1, 2021)
1. Deems information collected by or on behalf of a state agency in an endangered species survey or other species research as confidential information.
2. Prohibits disclosure of confidential information collected in an endangered species survey or other species research, if the information relates to the specific location, species identification or quantity of any animal or plant life under consideration, development or implementation of an endangered species survey or other species research or a conservation plan.
3. Subjects the violation of species confidentiality requirements to a $25,000 civil penalty for each violation.
4. Allows a state agency to disclose confidential collected species information only to the person who provided the information unless the person consents in writing to full or specific partial disclosure.
5. Requires confidential species information to be collected only through a standardized form in which the property owners provide express written consent to the survey or enrollment in a conservation plan.
6. Defines terms.
Statewide Survey
7. Appropriates $450,000 in FY 2021 to the University of Arizona Natural Resource Users Land and Policy Center, Cooperative Extension to conduct a statewide survey of species in Arizona.
Miscellaneous
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a delayed effective date as noted.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Appropriates $450,000 from the state General Fund to the University of Arizona for the statewide species survey.
2. Makes conforming changes.
Senate Action
NRE 2/19/20 DPA 4-2-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 19, 2020
KN/gs