ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

HB 2077: state lake improvement fund; appropriations

Sponsor: Representative Biasiucci, LD 5

Committee on Appropriations

Overview

Appropriates $5,000,000 to the Arizona State Parks Board (Board) for operating costs and limits how much State Lake Improvement Fund monies can be used for staff support for planning and administering for fund-related projects.

History

State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF)

SLIF monies are appropriated to the Board, which can be used for:

1) Staff support to plan and administer this fund; and

2) Certain projects on waters where gas-powered boats are allowed, such as building public piers and public parking areas and acquiring property to provide access to waters for boating.

Projects eligible for SLIF monies can be carried out by the Board, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, a county board of supervisors or a city or town council. However, these projects cannot interfere with any vested water rights or a water project's maintenance and operation. The Arizona Outdoor Recreation Coordinating Commission reviews applications for SLIF monies, and the Board approves them. Additionally, the Joint Committee on Capital Review must review all approved projects (A.R.S. § 5-382).

SLIF monies come from the following sources:

1) Transfers from the Highway User Revenue Fund based on the estimated state gasoline taxes paid for boating (A.R.S. § 28-5926);

2) Watercraft license taxes collected by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (A.R.S. § 5-323); and

3) Investment income.

State Parks Revenue Fund (SPRF)

SPRF funds consist of monies received from the sale of goods such as park posters, park postcards, books, souvenirs and sundry items. Additionally, SPRF monies are composed of legislative appropriations, unconditional gifts and donations and other revenues generated by the state parks system. These funds are used to operate and maintain the state park system and to acquire and develop real property and improvements as state parks (A.R.S. § 41-511.21).

Provisions

1. Caps expenditures from SLIF for staff support to plan and administer this fund at 10% of monies that are annually deposited into it. (Sec. 1)

2. Removes the Board's authorization to spend SLIF monies in conjunction with its other administrative tasks and recreation plans. (Sec. 1)

3. Allows SLIF monies to be used for water research and rescue operations. (Sec. 1)

4. Adds administration to the purposes for SPRF. (Sec. 2)

5. Appropriates the following amounts to the Board in FY 2022 for operating costs:

a) $3,000,000 from the state General Fund and

b) $2,000,000 from the SPRF. (Sec. 3)

6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1 and 2)

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10. HB 2077

11. Initials PAB/AG Page 0 Appropriations

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