ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: MAPS DPA 7-2-3-2

HB 2330: fire districts; formation; county supervisors

Sponsor: Representative Marshall, LD 7

Caucus & COW

Overview

Creates an alternate method for a Board of Supervisors (BOS) to form a fire district in a county with a population of less than 500,000 persons.

History

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 48-261, the process to form a fire district is initiated following the proposal of any adult person. The proposer must submit a district impact statement to the BOS, containing the following information:

1)   a map and description of the area and its proposed boundaries;

2)   a list of taxable properties;

3)   an estimate of assessed valuation of properties;

4)   an estimated change in property tax liability;

5)   a list of potential benefits and injuries that may result from the proposed district;

6)   the proposed members of the district's organizing board of directors; and

7)   a description of the services to be provided by the district.

Upon receipt of an impact statement, the BOS must hold a public hearing; if the BOS finds that the fire district will promote the public welfare, the BOS is to authorize petitions to collect signatures from property owners within the proposed district. If the petition is signed — by owners of more than half of the taxable property units of the proposed district, and by persons owning collectively more than half of the assessed valuation of the property in the area of the proposed district — then the BOS is to create the fire district (A.R.S. § 48-261).

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteProvisions

1.   Permits a BOS to hold a hearing to form a fire district with 5,000 or fewer persons upon receipt of a written request and a map of proposed boundaries for the fire district. (Sec. 2)

2.   Allows a BOS to take public testimony on the proposed fire district and revise the proposed boundaries. (Sec. 2)

3.   Directs a BOS, upon a determination to proceed with the proposal, to submit the question of the proposed fire district to the qualified electors in the proposed boundaries of the fire district. (Sec. 2)

4.   Outlines rules for how the election for the proposed fire district is to be held. (Sec. 2)

5.   Instructs a BOS, if approved by the voters, to declare the fire district formed and to appoint three persons to serve on the fire district organizing board of directors. (Sec. 2)

6.   Provides that the three appointed board members are to serve until the next general election. (Sec. 2)

7.   Directs a BOS to transmit a certified copy of the description of the boundaries to the county assessor. (Sec. 2)

8.   Asserts that a fire district formed pursuant to this Act has the same powers and duties as any other fire district. (Sec. 2)

9.   Stipulates that a county must have a population of less than 500,000 persons to form a fire district pursuant to this Act. (Sec. 2)

10.  Prohibits forming a fire district pursuant to this Act from and after December 31, 2026. (Sec. 2)

11.  Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Military Affairs & Public Safety

1.   Increases the required voter approval threshold from a majority of voters to 65% of voters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                        HB 2330

Initials NM    Page 0 Caucus & COW

 

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