ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

HB 2040: dam safety study committee

Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 14

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water

Overview

Establishes the Dam Safety Study Committee (Committee) to collect information on the safety, age and maintenance needs of dams within Arizona.

History

Arizona Department of Water Resources is responsible for supervising all dams in Arizona and any of the state's political subdivision as well as dams of public utilities (A.R.S. § 45-1201).

A dam is an artificial barrier for impounding or diverting water that is over 25 feet high or stores more than 50 acre-feet of water. It does not include any barrier that:

1) Is less than six feet high, regardless of storage capacity;

2) Stores 15 acre-feet of water or less, regardless of height;

3) Controls liquid-borne material;

4) Is a release-contained barrier; or

5) Is owned, controlled, operated, maintained or managed by the United States government, its agents or instrumentalities if a safety program that is at least as stringent as the state safety program applies and is enforced against the agent or instrumentality (A.R.S. § 45-1201).

Provisions

1. Requires the Committee to collect information on the safety, age and maintenance needs of dams within Arizona. (Sec. 1)

2. Establishes the Committee's membership:

a) Two members of different political parties from the House Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee (NREW) appointed by the Speaker of the House;

b) Two members of different political parties from the Senate Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee (NREW) appointed by the President of the Senate;

c) One member who represents a county flood control district with a population of more than 2,000,000 people who is appointed by the Speaker of the House;

d) One member who represents a county flood control district with a population of less than 2,000,000 people who is appointed by the President of the Senate;

e) The Arizona Department of Water Resources Director, or their designee; and

f) As a nonvoting member, the State Land Commissioner or their designee. (Sec. 1)

3. Specifies that the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate will designate one of the members appointed from their respective committees to serve as co-chairperson. (Sec. 1)

4. Stipulates that Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses. (Sec. 1)

5. Requires the Committee to submit a report of its findings by December 31, 2020 to the Governor, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate and provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State. (Sec. 1)

6. Repeals the Committee on July 1, 2022. (Sec. 1)

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10. HB 2040

11. Initials PAB/AG Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy and Water

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