PREFILED    NOV 21 2023

REFERENCE TITLE: wells; intention to drill; appropriation

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

HB 2014

Introduced by

Representative Griffin

An Act

providing for an audit of notices of intention to drill filings; appropriating monies.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Department of water resources; wells; notices of intention to drill; audit; delayed repeal

A. The director of the department of water resources shall conduct an audit of all notices of intention to drill that are filed with the department pursuant to section 45-596, Arizona Revised Statutes.

B. For each notice of intention to drill that is audited, the director shall determine if the notice of intention to drill resulted in the person drilling a new well or deepening an existing well.  If the person acted on the notice of intention to drill, the director shall determine:

1. If the well is active.

2. If the well has been removed, decommissioned or retired.

3. If the well uses a pump.

4. If the well is an exempt well as defined in section 45-402, Arizona Revised Statutes.

5. The primary use of the well, including agricultural, commercial, manufacturing, mining, municipal, power generation, recreational or residential use.

C. On or before January 1, 2026, the director shall submit a report of its findings to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

D. This section is repealed from and after June 30, 2026.

Sec. 2. Appropriation; department of water resources; notice of intention to drill audit; exemption

A. The sum of $________ is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2024-2025 to the department of water resources for an audit of all notices of intention to drill that are filed pursuant to section 45-596, Arizona Revised Statutes.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.