Senate Engrossed

state finance review; task force

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2022

SENATE BILL 1017

An Act

establishing the citizens finance review task force.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Citizens finance review task force; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A. The citizens finance review task force is established consisting of the following members:

1. Three members of the house of representatives, two of whom are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one of whom is appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the task force.

2. Three members of the senate, two of whom are appointed by the president of the senate and one of whom is appointed by the minority leader of the senate. The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the task force.

3. The president of the Arizona board of regents or the president's designee.

4. The president of the state board of education or the president's designee.

5. The director of the department of child safety or the director's designee.

6. The director of the Arizona health care cost containment system administration or the director's designee.

7. One representative of a statewide organization representing the business community who is appointed by the president of the senate.

8. One representative of a regional business organization representing rural Arizona who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

9. One representative of a statewide organization representing business and education leaders who is appointed by the governor.

10. One representative of a statewide organization representing public schoolteachers who is appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

11. One representative of a statewide organization representing school district governing boards who is appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

12. One representative of a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of children in the areas of education, human services and the state budget who is appointed by the governor.

13. Three economists, one of whom works for the university of Arizona, one of whom works for Arizona state university and one of whom works for northern Arizona university. The president of the Arizona board of regents shall appoint these members.

14. One economist from the department of revenue who is appointed by the director of the department of revenue.

15. Two private sector economists who are appointed by the governor.

B. The task force shall hold regular meetings.  All meetings of the task force shall be open to the public. The task force shall give reasonable notice of the meetings pursuant to title 38, chapter 3, article 3.1, Arizona Revised Statutes, and shall allow public testimony at every meeting. The task force shall meet at least once in Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff.

C. Task force members are not eligible to receive compensation, but members appointed pursuant to subsection A, paragraphs 7 through 15 of this section are eligible for reimbursement of expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

D. The task force shall:

1. Analyze the source of state general fund and nongeneral fund revenues, as compared to other states, including sustainable, stable and equitable fund revenues. The task force shall include in the revenue analysis an analysis of the state general fund impact of all tax credits and transaction privilege tax exemptions and their impact on economic development.

2. Analyze state general fund and nongeneral fund expenditures, as compared to other states, including budgeted expenditures based on an analysis of necessary funding levels to meet the responsibilities of the various state agencies.

3. Make recommendations regarding the responsible retirement of existing state debt.

E. The task force may use the staff of state agencies, including the joint legislative budget committee and the governor's office of strategic planning and budgeting, the state universities and nongovernmental entities for technical assistance and preparation of meeting presentations.

F. On or before September 30, 2023, the task force shall submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.  On or before January 31, 2024, the task force shall present the report at a joint meeting of the house of representatives and senate appropriations committees.  The appropriations committees shall allow public testimony at this joint meeting.

G. This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2024.