ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: NREW DP 7-0-2-1 | APPROP DP 14-0-1-0

HB2374: state lake improvement fund; appropriation

Sponsor: Representative Biasiucci, LD 30

Caucus & COW

Overview

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the State Parks Revenue Fund and $3,000,000 from the state General Fund (GF) to the Arizona State Parks Board (ASPB) for operating costs and limits the amount of annually deposited State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF) monies that can be used for staff support and fund administration.

History

State Lake Improvement Fund

The SLIF is administered by ASPB and receives revenues from:

1) transfers from the Highway User Revenue Fund based on the estimated state gasoline taxes paid for boating (A.R.S. § 28-5926);

2) watercraft license taxes collected by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (A.R.S. § 5-323); and

3) investment income.

The ASPB uses fund monies for staff support to plan and administer the fund in conjunction with the board's other administrative tasks and recreation plans and for projects on waters where gas-powered boards are allowed. These projects may include building public piers and parking areas and acquiring property to provide access to waters for boating. Projects eligible for SLIF monies can be carried out by the ASPB, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, a county board of supervisors or a city or town council. However, these projects cannot interfere with any vested water rights or a water project's maintenance and operation. The Arizona Outdoor Recreation Coordinating Commission reviews project applications and makes recommendations for which projects to fund to the ASPB. However, the Joint Committee on Capital Review must review all projects before the ASPB allocates any SLIF monies (A.R.S. § 5-382).

State Parks Revenue Fund

The State Parks Revenue Fund (SPRF) consist of monies received from the sale of concessions and park-related goods. Additionally, it may receive legislative appropriations, unconditional gifts and donations and other revenues generated by the state parks system. Subject to legislative appropriation, these funds are used to operate and maintain the state park system and to acquire and develop real property and improvements as state parks (A.R.S. § 41-511.21).

Provisions

1. Caps at 10 percent the amount of annually deposited SLIF monies that can be used to fund staff support and administer SLIF (Sec. 1).

2. Removes ASPB's authorization to spend SLIF monies in conjunction with its other administrative tasks and recreation plans. (Sec. 1)

3. Allows SILF monies to be used for water search and rescue operations. (Sec. 1)

4. Adds administration to the allowable uses of SPRF monies, subject to legislative appropriation. (Sec. 2)

5. Appropriates the following amounts to ASPB in FY 2024 for operating costs:

a) $3,000,000 from the state GF; and

b) $2,000,000 from the SPRF. (Sec. 3)

6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1 and 2)

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10. HB 2374

11. Initials PAB/AH Page 0 Caucus & COW

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