ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: LARA DP 10-0-0-1

HB 2081: Arizona department of agriculture; continuation

Sponsor: Representative Dunn, LD 13

Caucus & COW

Overview

Continues the Arizona Department of Agriculture for eight years.

History

Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA)

AZDA's mission is to support and promote Arizona agriculture that encourages farming, ranching and agribusiness, protects the well-being of people, plants, animals and the environment while safeguarding commerce, consumers and natural resources. It consists of six divisions: 1) Animal Services Division; 2) Plant Services Division; 3) Environmental Services Division; 4) Weights and Measures Services Division; 5) Pest Management Division; and 6) Citrus, Fruit and Vegetable Division (A.R.S. § 3-102).

Sunset Review Process

Established by Laws 1978, Chapter 210, the Sunset Review process provides a system for the Legislature to evaluate an agency to determine if the merits of the agency justify its continuation, modifications or termination. During the Sunset Review process, an agency is reviewed by legislative Committees of Reference (COR). Each COR is required to hold a public hearing to discuss the sunset review and receive testimony from agency officials and the public (A.R.S. § 41-2954)

AZDA is set to terminate on on July 1, 2021 (A.R.S. § 41-3020.01). On January 12, 2021, the Senate Natural Resources, Energy and Water COR and House Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs COR held a public hearing and recommended that the AZDA be continued until July 1, 2029 (COR Final Report).

Provisions

1. Repeals AZDA on January 1, 2030. (Sec 1)

2. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2021, AZDA until July 1, 2029. (Sec 2, 4)

3. Contains a purpose statement related to the continuation of AZDA. (Sec 3)

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7. HB 2081

8. Initials PAB/AG Page 0 Caucus & COW

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