Assigned to APPROP                                                                                          AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2612

appropriation; survey; desert tortoises

Purpose

Appropriates $300,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2021 to the University of Arizona (UA) Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension) line item to conduct species assessment surveys of certain animals.

Background

The Cooperative Extension partners the UA's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and James E. Roger's College of Law to address the legal and policy needs of the natural resource community in Arizona and the western United States (UA).

            H.B. 2612 appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FY 2021 to the Cooperative Extension line item to conduct species assessment surveys.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FY 2021 to the Cooperative Extension line item to contract with a third-party organization to conduct a species assessment survey of the cactus ferruginous pygmy owls, and if sufficient monies remain, a species assessment survey of the yellow billed cuckoos.

2. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.

3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

1. Appropriates monies to the Cooperative Extension line item, rather than the UA Natural Resources Land and Policy Center Cooperative Extension.

2. Removes the requirement for the appropriation to be used to conduct a species assessment survey of the desert tortoise.

3. Adds language relating to contracting with a third party to conduct the species assessment surveys.

4. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.

House Action Senate Action

LAG                2/6/20        DP       7-0-0-0               APPROP         3/10/20      DPA     6-1-2

3^rd Read          2/26/20                  46-13-1

Prepared by Senate Research

March 11, 2020

LMM/TSII/gs/kja