ARIZONA STATE SENATE

LIAM M. MAHER

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 18, 2022

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1180, relating to American Rescue Plan Act; reporting

Purpose

            Outlines reporting requirements relating to monies allocated in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).

Background

            The federal ARPA was enacted on March 11, 2021, and the executive branch has discretion in allocating ARPA monies. Arizona will receive a total of $4,200,000,000 from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recover Fund and has received $2,100,000,000 as of December 23, 2021. Monies in the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recover Fund are available through December 31, 2024 (JLBC).  

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires the following offices and agencies to report to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives (House), the chairpersons of the Senate and House appropriations committees and the Director of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) on intended expenditures from specified funds as appropriated by ARPA:

a) the Office of the Governor, before spending $10,000,000 or more for one designated purpose from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Coronavirus Capitol Projects Fund;

b) the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), before spending $10,000,000 or more for one designated purpose from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund; and

c) the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), before spending $10,000,000 or more for one designated purpose from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.

2. Requires the Office of the Governor, SPI and ABOR, within 30 days after the last day of each calendar quarter through June 30, 2024, to report to the following on the actual expenditures of monies from the specified funds as appropriated by ARPA:

a) the President of the Senate;

b) the Speaker of the House;

c) the chairpersons of the Senate and House appropriations committees; and

d) the Director of JLBC.

3. Requires the reports of intended and actual use of ARPA of 2021 monies to delineate expenditures by agency and program and include descriptions of expenditure purposes.

4. Asserts that the:

a) Legislature intends that the executive branch report on its planned and actual use of any major additional federal aid to Arizona through federal legislation enacted by the end of FY 2022; and

b) timing and frequency of the reports should be the same as required for ARPA expenditures.

5. Allows the Chair and Vice-Chair of JLBC to provide recommendations to the executive branch concerning federal legislation qualifying as providing major federal aid to Arizona.

6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.