REFERENCE TITLE: Arizona climate resiliency planning group

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

SB 1509

Introduced by

Senators Mendez: Epstein, Gabaldón, Hernandez, Miranda, Sundareshan, Terán; Representative Salman

An Act

establishing the Arizona climate resiliency planning group.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Arizona climate resiliency planning group; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A. The Arizona climate resiliency planning group is established consisting of persons who represent the following interest areas:

1. Electric power generation.

2. Manufacturing or mining.

3. Agriculture or forestry.

4. Construction.

5. Transportation.

6. Tourism or recreation.

7. Low-income assistance nonprofit organizations.

8. Native American tribes.

9. Public health.

10. Nonprofit environmental organizations.

11. Nonprofit renewable energy organizations.

12. Nonprofit organizations specializing in environmental inequities experienced by racial and ethnic minorities.

13. University environmental sciences programs.

14. State government.

15. Local government.

16. United States environmental protection agency.

B. The speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the minority party leader of the house of representatives and the minority party leader of the senate shall each appoint five persons from among the areas of representation prescribed in subsection A of this section.  The governor shall appoint two persons from among the areas of representation prescribed in subsection A of this section.  Every interest area prescribed by subsection A of this section shall be represented among the persons who are appointed to the group.

C. Members of the Arizona climate resiliency planning group are not eligible to receive compensation.

D. The Arizona climate resiliency planning group shall:

1. Compile a complete inventory of this state's greenhouse gas emissions and sources.

2. Review and, where necessary, revise the recommendations made in the Arizona climate change advisory group's 2006 climate change action plan.

3. Develop a resiliency plan to protect or improve the resiliency of this state's human populations and natural and economic systems against the risks of climate change.

4. Identify measures that can be taken to meet the following greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets:

(a) By 2031, reduce this state's greenhouse gas emissions to fifty percent below 2005 levels.

(b) By 2051, reduce this state's greenhouse gas emissions to ninety percent below 2005 levels.

5. Direct state agencies to identify and characterize potential current and future risks in this state to human, natural and economic systems, including potential risks to water resources, temperature-sensitive populations and systems, energy systems, transportation systems, vital infrastructure and public facilities, and natural lands.

6. Submit a report regarding the group's findings and recommendations for action on or before August 31, 2024 to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

E. This section is repealed from and after March 31, 2025.