Senate Engrossed House Bill

 

water resources; annual report

(now:  water; report; fees: levee)

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 166

 

HOUSE BILL 2022

 

 

An Act

 

amending section 45-111, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending senate bill 1720, section 96, fifty-sixth legislature, first regular session, as transmitted to the governor; relating to the department of water resources.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


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

Section 1. Section 45-111, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE45-111. Annual report by director

On or before July 1 August 15 each year the director shall render to the governor and the legislature a full and true report of the department's operations under this title, including operations relating to dam safety, levee repairs and other flood control activities. The report shall include suggestions as to amending existing laws or enacting new legislation as the director deems necessary and such other information, suggestions and recommendations as the director considers of value to the public. The report shall be published and made available to the public on the department's website. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Senate Bill 1720, section 96, fifty-sixth legislature, first regular session, as transmitted to the governor, is amended to read:

Sec. 96. WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AUTHORITY OF ARIZONA

                                                           2023-24

Water projects assistance grants             $ 3,000,000

Gilbert wells project                         27,800,000

Glendale irrigation and xeriscaping          810,000

Little Colorado River levee                   20,000,000

Mohave wash recharge basin                   3,400,000

Peoria wells project                           10,000,000

Total appropriation — water infrastructure

finance authority of Arizona                 $65,010,000

Fund sources:

State general fund                           $65,010,000

The water projects assistance grants are allocated to provide financial assistance to cities and towns that provide water in Navajo and Apache counties and to provide financial assistance to irrigation districts in Cochise and Graham counties to contract for services of outside advisors, attorneys, consultants and aides that are reasonably necessary to enable these cities and towns and irrigation districts to adequately perform their duties.

Of the amount appropriated to the water projects assistance grants line item, $1,000,000 is allocated to provide financial assistance to cities and towns that provide water in Navajo and Apache counties to contract for services of outside advisors, attorneys, consultants and aides that are reasonably necessary or desirable to enable the cities and towns to adequately perform their duties.

Of the amount appropriated to the water projects assistance grants line item, $1,000,000 is allocated to provide financial assistance to irrigation districts in Graham county to contract for services of outside advisors, attorneys, consultants and aides that are reasonably necessary or desirable to enable the irrigation districts to adequately perform their duties. 

Of the amount appropriated to the water projects assistance grants line item, $1,000,000 is allocated to provide financial assistance to irrigation districts in Cochise county along the San Pedro River to contract for services of outside advisors, attorneys, consultants and aides that are reasonably necessary or desirable to enable the irrigation districts to adequately perform their duties. 

The applications for these monies shall be presented for approval to the water infrastructure finance authority of Arizona and the authority shall distribute these monies to the qualified entities before December 31, 2023.

The water infrastructure finance authority of Arizona shall distribute the monies in the Gilbert wells project line item to the town of Gilbert for the rehabilitation and drilling of new water wells.

The water infrastructure finance authority of Arizona shall distribute the monies in the Glendale irrigation and xeriscaping line item to the city of Glendale for irrigation system and xeriscaping.

The water infrastructure finance authority of Arizona shall distribute the monies in the Little Colorado River levee line item to the city of Winslow Navajo county to reconstruct the Little Colorado River levee.

The water infrastructure finance authority of Arizona shall distribute the monies in the Mohave wash recharge basin line item to Mohave county to design and construct the Mohave wash recharge basin.

The water infrastructure finance authority of Arizona shall distribute the monies in the Peoria wells project line item to the city of Peoria for new water wells and water infrastructure projects.

Sec. 3. Fee reduction; exemption from rulemaking

A. Notwithstanding any other law, the department of water resources shall reduce the following application fees to not more than $100 per application:

1. An application for a certificate of grandfathered right in an active management area established after January 1, 2022.

2. An application for a notice of authority to irrigate land in an irrigation non-expansion area established after January 1, 2022.

B. In establishing the reduced fees pursuant to subsection A of this section, the department is exempt from the rulemaking requirements of title 41, chapter 6, Arizona Revised Statutes, for one year after the effective date of this act.

Sec. 4. Emergency

This act is an emergency measure that is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative immediately as provided by law.


 

 

 

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR JUNE 16, 2023.

 

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 16, 2023.