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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
state lake improvement fund; drones
Purpose
Requires the Arizona State Parks Board (ASPB) to use monies in the State Lake Improvement Fund (Fund) to purchase drones for cleaning lakes and waterways and law enforcement purposes.
Background
Monies in the Fund are appropriated to the ASPB solely for outlined purposes and are exempt from lapsing. Interest earned on monies in the Fund are credited to the Fund. The ASPB must use monies in the Fund only for the following purposes: 1) to fund staff support to plan and administer the Fund in conjunction with other administrative tasks and recreation plans of the ASPB; and 2) to fund projects on waters where gasoline-powered boats are permitted, which are limited to outlined projects. Projects involving expenditure of monies from the Fund may be accomplished by the ASPB, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the board of supervisors of any county, or the governing body of a city or town, provided that the projects do not interfere with any vested water rights or the operation or maintenance of water projects, including domestic, municipal, irrigation district, drainage district, flood control district or reclamation projects (A.R.S. § 5-382).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Adds, to the uses for which the ASPB may use monies in the Fund, funding the purchase of drones:
a) to clean plastic, algae, biomass and other floating trash from lakes and waterways; and
b) by law enforcement agencies and fire service agencies for the purposes of search, rescue and recovery operations and training in the use and operation of the drones.
2. Requires drones purchased for the purpose of cleaning plastic, algae, biomass and other floating trash from lakes and waterways to be equipped with the following specifications:
a) time stamped and GPS locating data sensors to provide constant monitoring of lakes and waterways; and
b) collision avoidance.
3. Adds, to the entities that may accomplish projects involving expenditure of monies from the Fund if outlined conditions apply, the governing body of a fire district.
4. Makes technical changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
LARA 2/12/24 DPA 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/26/24 56-0-3-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 19, 2024
RA/SDR/slp