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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
Arizona's outdoors; recreation; supporting
Purpose
Recognizes the importance of outdoor experiences and activities for the well-being of Arizona residents.
Background
Arizona's state and public lands include State Trust Land, streams and forests. The State Land Department administers Arizona's public lands to conserve and preserve natural resources, wildlife habitat, wilderness areas and historical sites and artifacts and to permit public use of the lands, including for recreation (A.R.S. § 37-902). The Arizona State Parks Board operates and maintains Arizona's state parks, natural areas and historic and cultural areas by selecting, acquiring, preserving, establishing, and maintaining areas for education, pleasure, and recreation (A.R.S § 41-511.03). Various federal agencies oversee other public lands for designated purposes, including Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Services and the U.S. Armed Forces (43 U.S. Code § 1702).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Recognizes the importance of outdoor experiences while respecting private property right for the well-being of Arizona's residents.
2. Recognizes that Arizona residents should have the opportunity to:
a) enjoy and observe the nature and wildlife in Arizona through activities like hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, trail running, trail riding, mountain biking, four-wheeling, rock climbing, stargazing, wildlife watching or just wandering in the outdoors;
b) learn about, appreciate and respect indigenous cultural resources, petroglyphs, pictographs, ancient habitation sites and sacred landscapes as places best left undisturbed;
c) explore Arizona's parks, forests, public lands and wild places;
d) experience Arizona's mountains, deserts, grasslands and canyons;
e) gaze at a starry sky or sleep outdoors in a tent;
f) bring along a friend to discover nearby nature right outside one's own backyard and beyond;
g) splash or refresh in Arizona's rivers, lakes, streams and hot springs;
h) follow a trail;
i) plant a seed, tend a garden or create a wildlife habitat garden; and
j) be a steward and take care of Arizona's outdoor places and landscapes so future generations will also be able to enjoy these precious assets.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2021
KN/RA/gs