SB1594 - 561R

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

Section 1. Section 28-2351, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE28-2351. License plate provided; design

A. Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall provide to every owner one license plate for each vehicle registered. At the request of the owner and on payment of a fee in an amount prescribed by the director by rule, the department shall provide one additional license plate for a vehicle for which a special plate is requested pursuant to this chapter.

B. The license plate shall display the number assigned to the vehicle and to the owner of the vehicle and the name of this state, which may be abbreviated. The director shall coat the license plate with a reflective material that is consistent with the determination of the department regarding the color and design of license plates and special plates. The background color of the license plate shall contrast significantly with the color of the letters and numerals on the license plate and with the name of this state on the license plate. The name of this state shall appear on the license plate in capital letters in sans serif font and be three-fourths of an inch in height. The director shall design the license plate and the letters and numerals on the license plate to be of sufficient size to be plainly readable during daylight from a distance of one hundred feet. In addition to the standard license plate issued for a trailer before August 12, 2005, the director shall issue a license plate for trailers that has a design that is similar to the standard size license plate for trailers but that is the same size as the license plate for motorcycles. The trailer owner shall notify the department which size license plate the owner wants for the trailer.

C. In addition to the requirements in subsection B of this section, for all license plates, including all special plates, that are designed or redesigned on or after September 24, 2022:

1. The background color of the license plate shall contrast significantly with the color of the letters and NUMERALS on the license plate and with the name of this state on the license plate.

2. The name of this state shall appear on the license plate in capital letters in sans serif font and be three-fourths of an inch in height.

C. D. Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall not contract with a nongovernmental entity to purchase or secure reflective material for the plates issued by the department unless the department has made a reasonable effort to secure qualified bids or proposals from as many individual responsible respondents as possible.

D. E. The department shall determine the color and design of the license plate subject to the requirements prescribed by subsection subsections B and C of this section. All plates issued by the department, except the plates that are designed or redesigned before September 24, 2022 and that are issued pursuant to sections 28-2404, 28-2412, 28-2413, 28-2414, 28-2416, 28-2416.01, 28-2417 through 28-2470.17 28-2470.18, 28-2472, 28-2473, 28-2474, 28-2475, 28-2476 and 28-4533 and article 14 of this chapter, shall be the same color as and similar in design to the license plate as determined by the department.

E. F. A passenger motor vehicle that is rented without a driver shall receive the same type of license plate as is issued for a private passenger motor vehicle. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 28-2403, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE28-2403. Special plates; transfers; violation; classification

A. Except as otherwise provided in this article, the department shall issue or renew special plates in lieu of the regular license plates pursuant to the following conditions and procedures and only if the requirements prescribed by this article for the requested special plates are met:

1. Except as provided in sections 28-2416 and 28-2416.01, a person who is the registered owner of a vehicle registered with the department or who applies for an original or renewal registration of a vehicle may submit to the department a completed application form as prescribed by the department with the fee prescribed by section 28-2402 for special plates in addition to the registration fee prescribed by section 28-2003.

2. Except for plates issued pursuant to sections 28-2404, 28-2412, 28-2413, 28-2414, 28-2416, 28-2416.01, 28-2417 through 28-2470.17 28-2470.18, 28-2472, 28-2473, 28-2474, 28-2475 and 28-2476 and article 14 of this chapter, the special plates shall be the same color as and similar to the design of the regular license plates that is determined by the department.

3. Except as provided in section 28-2416, the department shall issue special plates only to the owner or lessee of a vehicle that is currently registered, including any vehicle that has a declared gross weight, as defined in section 28-5431, of twenty-six thousand pounds or less.

4. Except as provided in sections 28-2416 and 28-2416.01, the department shall charge the fee prescribed by section 28-2402 for each annual renewal of special plates in addition to the registration fee prescribed by section 28-2003.

B. Except as provided in sections 28-2416 and 28-2416.01, on notification to the department and on payment of the transfer fee prescribed by section 28-2402, a person who is issued special plates may transfer the special plates to another vehicle the person owns or leases. Persons who are issued special plates for hearing impaired persons pursuant to section 28-2408 and international symbol of access special plates pursuant to section 28-2409 are exempt from the transfer fee. If a person who is issued special plates sells, trades or otherwise releases ownership of the vehicle on which the plates have been displayed, the person shall immediately report the transfer of the plates to the department or the person shall surrender the plates to the department as prescribed by the director. It is unlawful for a person to whom the plates have been issued to knowingly allow them to be displayed on a vehicle except the vehicle authorized by the department.

C. The special plates shall be affixed to the vehicle for which registration is sought in lieu of the regular license plates.

D. A person is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor who:

1. Violates subsection B of this section.

2. Fraudulently gives false or fictitious information in the application for or renewal of special plates or placards issued pursuant to this article.

3. Conceals a material fact or otherwise commits fraud in the application for or renewal of special plates or placards issued pursuant to this article. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 28-2416, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE28-2416. Alternative fuel vehicle special plates; stickers; use of high occupancy vehicle lanes; definition

A. A person who owns a motor vehicle that has either been converted or manufactured to use an alternative fuel as the vehicle's exclusive fuel source and that is incapable of operating on any other type of fuel and the alternative fuel was subject to the use fuel tax imposed pursuant to chapter 16 of this title before April 1, 1997 shall apply for alternative fuel vehicle special plates pursuant to this section.

B. The department shall issue alternative fuel vehicle special plates, or an alternative fuel vehicle sticker as provided in subsection D of this section, to a person who satisfies all of the following:

1. Owns a motor vehicle that is exclusively powered by an alternative fuel and that is incapable of operating on any other type of fuel.

2. Provides proof as follows:

(a) For an original equipment manufactured alternative fuel vehicle, the dealer who sells the motor vehicle shall provide to the department of transportation and the owner of the motor vehicle a certificate indicating:

(i) That the motor vehicle is exclusively powered by an alternative fuel and is incapable of operating on any other type of fuel.

(ii) The emission classification of the motor vehicle as low, inherently low, ultralow or zero.

(b) For a converted motor vehicle or a motor vehicle that is assembled by the owner, the department of environmental quality or an agent of the department of environmental quality shall provide a certificate to the department of transportation and the owner of the motor vehicle indicating that the motor vehicle is exclusively powered by an alternative fuel and is incapable of operating on any other type of fuel.

3. Pays an eight dollar $8 special plate administration fee, except that vehicles that are registered pursuant to section 28-2511 are exempt from that fee. The department shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, all special plate administration fees in the state highway fund established by section 28-6991.

C. The color and design of the alternative fuel vehicle special plates are subject to the approval of the governor's energy office. The director may allow a request for alternative fuel vehicle special plates to be combined with a request for personalized special plates. If the director allows such a combination, the request shall be in a form prescribed by the director and is subject to the fees for the personalized special plates in addition to the fees required for alternative fuel vehicle special plates. Alternative fuel vehicle special plates are not transferable, except that if the director allows alternative fuel vehicle special plates to be personalized a person who is issued personalized alternative fuel vehicle special plates may transfer those plates to another alternative fuel vehicle for which the person is the registered owner or lessee.

D. If a motor vehicle qualifies pursuant to this section and any other special plates are issued pursuant to article 7, 8 or 13 of this chapter or section 28-2414 or 28-2514 for the motor vehicle, the department may issue an alternative fuel vehicle sticker to the person who owns the motor vehicle. The alternative fuel vehicle sticker shall be diamond-shaped, shall indicate the type of alternative fuel used by the vehicle and shall be placed on the motor vehicle as prescribed by the department.

E. Except as provided in section 28-337, a person may drive a motor vehicle with alternative fuel vehicle special plates or an alternative fuel vehicle sticker in high occupancy vehicle lanes at any time, regardless of occupancy level, without penalty.

F. A person shall not drive a motor vehicle in a high occupancy vehicle lane with an alternative fuel vehicle sticker if the motor vehicle is not an alternative fuel vehicle for which an alternative fuel vehicle sticker has been issued pursuant to this section. A person who violates this subsection is subject to a civil penalty of three hundred fifty dollars $350. Notwithstanding section 28-1554, the civil penalty collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the state general fund.

G. For the purposes of section 28-337, the department shall:

1. Limit or suspend the issuance of alternative fuel vehicle special plates.

2. Remove the privilege of operating in the high occupancy vehicle lane with a single occupant, including the driver.

H. If the department publishes maps of the state highway system that are distributed to the general public, the department shall indicate on those maps the approximate location of alternative fuel delivery facilities that are open to the public.

I. For the purposes of this section, "alternative fuel" has the same meaning prescribed in section 1-215. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Title 28, chapter 7, article 12, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 28-2470.18, to read:

START_STATUTE28-2470.18. Divine nine special plates; fund

A. If, by December 31, 2023, a person pays $32,000 to the department for the implementation of this section, the department shall issue divine nine special plates. The person that provides the $32,000 shall design the divine nine special plates. The design and color of the divine nine special plates are subject to the approval of the department. for each of the sororities and fraternities that are authorized for divine nine special plates pursuant to this subsection, the name of the specific sorority or fraternity may be displayed along the bottom of the special plate as approved by the department. The director may allow a request for divine nine special plates to be combined with a request for personalized special plates. If the director allows such a combination, the request shall be in a form prescribed by the director and is subject to the fees for the personalized special plates in addition to the fees required for the divine nine special plates.

B. Of the $25 fee required by section 28-2402 for the original special plates and for renewal of special plates, $8 is a special plate administration fee and $17 is an annual donation.

C. The department shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, all special plate administration fees in the state highway fund established by section 28-6991 and shall transmit all donations collected pursuant to this section to the divine nine special plate fund established by this section.

D. The divine nine special plate fund is established consisting of monies deposited pursuant to this section. The director shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated.

E. The director shall annually allocate monies from the fund to the entity that paid the implementation fee to the department pursuant to subsection A of this section. The entity must have been founded in 2018 and have a mission to:

1. Foster cooperative actions of its members in dealing with matters of mutual concern.

2. Promote the well-being of its affiliate sororities and fraternities, facilitate the establishment and DEVELOPMENT OF local councils and provide leadership training for its constituents.

3. Educate citizens and communities in this state in the interest of the general public through community education, literature and broadcast information with respect to government issues about methodologies and strategies to improve, maintain and promote the needs and knowledge of the residents of this state, with respect to economic development, public safety and access to educational opportunities so that the residents of this state can serve for the protection, conservation and preservation of their human and natural environment in and around this state.

F. On notice from the director, the state treasurer shall invest and divest monies in the fund as provided by section 35-313, and monies earned from investment shall be credited to the fund. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 28-6501, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE28-6501. Definition of highway user revenues

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires or except as otherwise provided by statute, "highway user revenues" means all monies received in this state from licenses, taxes, penalties, interest and fees authorized by the following:

1. Chapters 2, 7, 8 and 15 of this title, except for:

(a) The special plate administration fees prescribed in sections 28-2404, 28-2407, 28-2412 through 28-2470.17 28-2470.18 and 28-2514.

(b) The donations prescribed in sections 28-2404, 28-2407, 28-2412 through 28-2415, 28-2417 through 28-2470.17 28-2470.18, 28-2473, 28-2474, 28-2475 and 28-2476.

2. Section 28-1177.

3. Chapters 10 and 11 of this title.

4. Chapter 16, articles 1, 2 and 4 of this title, except as provided in sections 28-5926 and 28-5927. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Section 28-6991, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE28-6991. State highway fund; sources

The state highway fund is established that consists of:

1. Monies distributed from the Arizona highway user revenue fund pursuant to chapter 18 of this title.

2. Monies appropriated by the legislature.

3. Monies received from donations for the construction, improvement or maintenance of state highways or bridges. These monies shall be credited to a special account and shall be spent only for the purpose indicated by the donor.

4. Monies received from counties or cities under cooperative agreements, including proceeds from bond issues. The state treasurer shall deposit these monies to the credit of the fund in a special account on delivery to the treasurer of a concise written agreement between the department and the county or city stating the purposes for which the monies are surrendered by the county or city, and these monies shall be spent only as stated in the agreement.

5. Monies received from the United States under an act of Congress to provide aid for the construction of rural post roads, but monies received on projects for which the monies necessary to be provided by this state are wholly derived from sources mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this section shall be allotted by the department and deposited by the state treasurer in the special account within the fund established for each project. On completion of the project, on the satisfaction and discharge in full of all obligations of any kind created and on request of the department, the treasurer shall transfer the unexpended balance in the special account for the project into the state highway fund, and the unexpended balance and any further federal aid thereafter received on account of the project may be spent under the general provisions of this title.

6. Monies in the custody of an officer or agent of this state from any source that is to be used for the construction, improvement or maintenance of state highways or bridges.

7. Monies deposited in the state general fund and arising from the disposal of state personal property belonging to the department.

8. Receipts from the sale or disposal of any or all other property held by the department and purchased with state highway monies.

9. Monies generated pursuant to section 28-410.

10. Monies distributed pursuant to section 28-5808, subsection B, paragraph 2, subdivision (d).

11. Monies deposited pursuant to sections 28-1143, 28-2353 and 28-3003.

12. Except as provided in section 28-5101, the following monies:

(a) Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-2206 and section 28-5808, subsection B, paragraph 2, subdivision (e).

(b) $1 of each registration fee and $1 of each title fee collected pursuant to section 28-2003.

(d) The air quality compliance fee collected pursuant to section 49-542.

(e) The special plate administration fees collected pursuant to sections 28-2404, 28-2407, 28-2412 through 28-2416, 28-2416.01, 28-2417 through 28-2470.17 28-2470.18 and 28-2514.

(f) Monies collected pursuant to sections 28-372, 28-2155 and 28-2156 if the director is the registering officer.

13. Monies deposited pursuant to chapter 5, article 5 of this title.

14. Donations received pursuant to section 28-2269.

15. Dealer and registration monies collected pursuant to section 28-4304.

16. Abandoned vehicle administration monies deposited pursuant to section 28-4804.

17. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-710, subsection D, paragraph 2.

18. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-2065.

19. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-7311.

20. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-7059.

21. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-1105.

22. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-2448, subsection D.

23. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-3415.

24. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-3002, subsection A, paragraph 14.

25. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-7316.

26. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-4302.

27. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-3416.

28. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-4504.

29. Monies deposited pursuant to section 28-2098.

30. Monies deposited pursuant to sections 28-2321, 28-2324, 28-2325, 28-5474, 28-5739, 28-5863 and 28-5864. END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Section 28-6993, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE28-6993. State highway fund; authorized uses

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section and section 28-6538, the state highway fund shall be used for any of the following purposes in strict conformity with and subject to the budget as provided by this section and by sections 28-6997 through 28-7003:

1. To pay salaries, wages, necessary travel expenses and other expenses of officers and employees of the department and the incidental office expenses, including telegraph, telephone, postal and express charges and printing, stationery and advertising expenses.

2. To pay for both:

(a) Equipment, supplies, machines, tools, department offices and laboratories established by the department.

(b) The construction and repair of buildings or yards of the department.

3. To pay the cost of both:

(a) Engineering, construction, improvement and maintenance of state highways and parts of highways forming state routes.

(b) Highways under cooperative agreements with the United States that are entered into pursuant to this chapter and an act of Congress providing for the construction of rural post roads.

4. To pay land damages incurred by reason of establishing, opening, altering, relocating, widening or abandoning portions of a state route or state highway.

5. To reimburse the department revolving account.

6. To pay premiums on authorized indemnity bonds and on compensation insurance under the workers' compensation act.

7. To defray lawful expenses and costs required to administer and carry out the intent, purposes and provisions of this title, including repayment of obligations entered into pursuant to this title, payment of interest on obligations entered into pursuant to this title, repayment of loans and other financial assistance, including repayment of advances and interest on advances made to the department pursuant to section 28-7677, and payment of all other obligations and expenses of the board and department pursuant to chapter 21 of this title.

8. To pay lawful bills and charges incurred by the state engineer.

9. To acquire, construct or improve entry roads to state parks or roads within state parks.

10. To acquire, construct or improve entry roads to state prisons.

11. To pay the cost of relocating a utility facility pursuant to section 28-7156.

12. For the purposes provided in subsections C, D and E of this section and sections 28-1143, 28-2353 and 28-3003.

13. To pay the cost of issuing an Arizona centennial special plate pursuant to section 28-2448.

14. To pay for all of the following:

(a) The enforcement by the department of public safety and the department of transportation of vehicle safety requirements within twenty-five miles of the border between this state and Mexico.

(b) Costs related to procuring electronic equipment, automated systems or improvements to existing electronic equipment or automated systems for relieving vehicle congestion at ports of entry on the border between this state and Mexico.

(c) Constructing, maintaining and upgrading transportation facilities, including roads, streets and highways, approved by the board within twenty-five miles of the border between this state and Mexico.

(d) As approved by the board, constructing and maintaining transportation facilities in the CANAMEX high priority corridor as defined in section 332 of the national highway system designation act of 1995 (P.L. 104-59; 109 Stat. 568).

(e) Activities of the department that include collecting transportation and trade data in the United States and Mexico for the purposes of constructing transportation facilities, improving public safety, improving truck processing time and relieving congestion at ports of entry on the border between this state and Mexico. The department may enter into an agreement with the Arizona-Mexico commission and provide funding to the commission for the purposes of this subdivision.

(f) A commitment or investment necessary for the department or another agency of this state to obtain federal monies that are designated for expenditure pursuant to this section.

B. For each fiscal year, the department of transportation shall allocate and transfer monies in the state highway fund to the department of public safety for funding a portion of highway patrol costs in eight installments in each of the first eight months of a fiscal year that do not exceed $10,000,000.

C. Subject to legislative appropriation, the department may use the monies in the state highway fund as prescribed in section 28-6991, paragraph 12 to carry out the duties imposed by this title for registration or titling of vehicles, to operate joint title, registration and driver licensing offices, to cover the administrative costs of issuing the air quality compliance sticker, modifying the year validating tab and issuing the windshield sticker and to cover expenses and costs in issuing special plates pursuant to sections 28-2404, 28-2407, 28-2412 through 28-2470.17 28-2470.18 and 28-2514.

D. The department shall use monies deposited in the state highway fund pursuant to chapter 5, article 5 of this title only as prescribed by that article.

E. Monies deposited in the state highway fund pursuant to section 28-2269 shall be used only as prescribed by that section.

F. Monies deposited in the state highway fund pursuant to section 28-710, subsection D, paragraph 2 shall only be used for state highway work zone traffic control devices.

G. The department may exchange monies distributed to the state highway fund pursuant to section 28-6538, subsection A, paragraph 1 for local government surface transportation program federal monies suballocated to councils of government and metropolitan planning organizations if the local government scheduled to receive the federal monies concurs. An exchange of state highway fund monies pursuant to this subsection shall be in an amount that is at least equal to ninety percent of the federal obligation authority that exists in the project for which the exchange is proposed.

H. The department shall use monies deposited in the state highway fund pursuant to section 28-1105, subsection A, paragraph 2, subdivision (a) only for a transportation facility that is located within twenty drivable miles of the international port of entry and shall spend the monies proportionally based on the amount of total monies collected pursuant to section 28-1105, subsection A, paragraph 2, subdivision (a). For the purposes of this subsection, "transportation facility" means a highway or a state route or a county, city or town road that is used by a commercial vehicle or a commercial vehicle combination for which an axle fee is paid pursuant to section 28-5474. END_STATUTE

Sec. 8. Laws 2023, chapter 133, section 116 is amended to read:

START_STATUTESec. 116. Appropriations; state treasurer; local government distributions; fiscal year 2023-2024

The following amounts are appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to the state treasurer for the following:

1. $2,500,000 to distribute to county sheriffs for search and rescue-related equipment to enhance the sheriff's search and rescue mission capabilities as follows:

(a) Cochise county, not more than eighteen percent.

(b) Coconino county, not more than twenty-one percent.

(d) Greenlee county, not more than one-half percent.

(e) Mohave county, not more than twenty-one percent.

(f) Navajo county, not more than one-half percent.

(g) Pinal county, not more than twenty-two percent.

(h) Yavapai county, not more than thirteen and one-half percent.

(i) Apache, Graham, La Paz, Maricopa, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties, not more than a total of one percent distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

2. $9,000,000 to distribute to Mohave county for capital improvements to the following:

(a) Lake Havasu substation.

(b) Boating safety center on Lake Havasu.

(d) Beaver Dam substation.

3. $860,000 to distribute to La Paz county for the following:

(a) Server replacement.

(b) Public safety dock and boat lifts.

4. $500,000 to distribute to the Mohave county sheriff's office for vehicle purchases.

5. $3,000,000 to distribute for police department support as follows:

(a) $2,000,000 to the Wickenburg police department.

(b) $1,000,000 to the Hayden police department.

6. $750,000 to distribute to the Copper Canyon fire and medical district to offset COVID-related expenses.

7. $3,500,000 to distribute to the Peoria police department for the purchase of a public safety helicopter.

8. $1,500,000 to distribute to the Peoria police department for a mobile command center.

9. $3,500,000 to distribute to the city of Prescott and the town of Prescott Valley as follows:

(a) $1,750,000 to the city of Prescott.

(b) $1,750,000 to the town of Prescott Valley.

(c) The state treasurer may not distribute the monies appropriated by this paragraph until Yavapai county, the city of Prescott and the town of Prescott Valley jointly demonstrate to the state treasurer that the county, city and town have a commitment for matching monies of gifts, grants and donations in the amount of at least $3,500,000 for the Glassford Dells regional park from sources other than this state.

10. $1,400,000 to distribute to the city of Wickenburg for fire station upgrades.

11. $8,987,000 to distribute to the city of Flagstaff for post-fire mitigation, including detention basin maintenance and operation, and drainage capital improvement projects.

12. $750,000 to distribute to the town of Snowflake for a sewer main lift station replacement.

13. $3,214,500 to distribute to the city of Glendale for a veterans community project.

14. $126,200 to distribute to counties for property owner notification systems as follows:

(a) $10,000 to Apache county.

(b) $10,000 to Cochise county.

(d) $7,200 to Gila county.

(e) $10,000 to Graham county.

(f) $10,000 to Greenlee county.

(g) $10,000 to La Paz county.

(h) $25,000 to Mohave county.

(i) $10,000 to Navajo county.

(j) $10,000 to Santa Cruz county.

(k) $7,000 to Yuma county.

15. $750,000 to distribute to police departments for a pepper ball pilot program as follows:

(a) $250,000 to the Chandler police department.

(b) $250,000 to the Tucson police department.

The pepper ball pilot program is intended to test a nonlethal compliance tool that can be deployed at a distance of greater than twenty feet and that does not cause significant bodily injury.

16. $850,000 to distribute to the Maricopa association of governments for a Sun City transportation project study.

17. 16. $10,050,000 to distribute to the Maricopa association of governments for the relocation of utilities related to the construction of State Route 30.

18. 17. $500,000 to distribute to the town of Kearny for public building remediation.

19. 18. $1,000,000 to distribute to the Vernon fire district for equipment and operations.

20. 19. $2,000,000 to distribute to the Chandler police department for new technology, building out services and officer wellness. END_STATUTE

Sec. 9. Department of transportation; Sun City solar-powered personal rapid transit system study; delayed repeal

A. The department of transportation shall contract with a third party to conduct a Sun City solar-powered personal rapid transit system study. The third party shall consist of the following:

1. Persons who have successfully designed and implemented a personalized public transit system and whose skills, either directly or through limited subcontracting, cover the technical areas of solar power, electrical, mechanical, software, systems, test and safety engineering for the specified scope of the committee.

2. Persons who have successfully managed companies, who have direct experience designing and planning large-scale projects greater than $250,000,000 and who have direct experience building projects of the anticipated scale and cost of a solar-powered personal rapid transit system in Sun City.

B. The study shall:

1. Include a survey of the Sun City community and relevant people within the community and within local government agencies and develop a clear set of needs of the community and the agencies.

2. Include a design for a solar-powered personal rapid transit system in Sun City that consists of small driverless vehicles traveling on an elevated guideway providing on-demand, origin-to-destination travel between accessible offline stations. All transit power from the system must be derived from solar power. The design must be able to be funded by private persons or by public-private partnerships.

3. State how its findings for the Sun City community apply to other cities, towns and counties in this state.

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

Sec. 10. Appropriation; department of transportation; Sun City solar-powered personal rapid transit system study; exemption

A. The sum of $850,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to the department of transportation to contract with a third party to conduct a Sun City solar-powered personal rapid transit system study pursuant to section 9 of this act.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.