ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
state lake improvement fund; appropriation
Purpose
Makes changes to the allowable uses for the monies in the State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF) and the State Parks Revenue Fund (SPRF). Appropriates $3 million from the state General Fund (state GF) and $2 million from the SPRF in FY 2024 to the Arizona State Parks Board (ASPB) for operating costs.
Background
The ASPB must administer the SLIF, consisting of: 1) a monthly transfer of 1.6 percent of the motor vehicle fuel tax revenue; 2) a monthly deposit of 5.25 percent of the revenue from the registration and infrastructure fees for the numbering of watercraft; and 3) interest on monies in the SLIF (A.R.S. §§ 5-323; 5-382; and 28-5926). SLIF monies are used to fund staff support to plan and administer the SLIF in conjunction with the ASPB's other administrative tasks and recreation plans and fund projects on waters where gasoline powered boats are permitted. Projects are limited to: 1) public launching ramps; 2) public piers, marinas or marina stadia; 3) public toilets, sanitation facilities and domestic waters; 4) public picnic tables and facilities; 5) public parking areas; 6) lake construction or improvement; 7) marking buoys and other safety facilities; 8) watercraft; 9) public campgrounds; 10) acquisition of real and personal property through purchase, lease, agreement or otherwise to provide access to waters where boating is permitted; and 11) design and engineer projects. The ASPB, Arizona Game and Fish Commission, and any county board of supervisors or governing body of a city or town may expend monies from the SLIF for a project, subject to review by the Arizona Outdoor Coordinating Commission, if the project does not interfere with any vested water rights, or the operation or maintenance of water projects. (A.R.S. § 5-382).
The ASPB must also administer the SPRF, which consists of: 1) revenue
from the sale of park posters, park postcards, books, souvenirs and sundry
items; 2) legislative appropriations for enhancing state parks; 3)
unconditional gifts and donations; 4) revenue from state park user fees,
concession fees and other revenue generating activities; 5) surcharges on park
reservations; and
6) the sale of park assets. SPRF monies may be used for the: 1) operation and
maintenance of the state park system; and 2) ASPB to acquire and develop real
property and improvements as state parks consistent with the prescribed
statutory purposes and objectives (A.R.S.
§ 41-511.21).
H.B. 2374 appropriates $3 million from the state GF and $2 million from the SPRF in FY 2024 to the ASPB for operating costs.
Provisions
1. Appropriates the following in FY 2024 to the ASPB for operating costs:
a) $3 million from the state GF; and
b) $2 million from the SPRF.
2. Expands the allowable uses for monies in the:
a) SLIF to include water search and rescue operations; and
b) SPRF to include administration of the state park system, subject to legislative appropriations.
3. Prohibits the ASPB from using more than 10 percent of the monies deposited in the SLIF annually to fund staff support for planning and administration.
4. Removes the authorization for the ASPB to use SLIF monies in conjunction with the ASPB's other administrative tasks and recreation plans.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
NREW 2/14/23 DP 7-0-2-1
APPROP 2/15/23 DP 14-0-1-0
3rd Read 2/22/23 53-7-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 7, 2023
RA/FB/slp