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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session |
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SB 1134: ADWR; application; review; time frames
S/E: county water augmentation authorities; bond
Sponsor: Senator Shope, LD 16
Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to SB 1134
Overview
Modifies powers and duties, financial provisions and revenue bonding provisions for county water augmentation authorities.
History
Current law allows a county water augmentation authority to be established in any active management area (AMA) in which the following conditions exist: 1) more than 50 percent of the area of the AMA lies within a single county; 2) the population of the county is less than 150,000; and 3) a political subdivision of the state within the AMA receives Colorado River water pursuant to contracts with the Central Arizona Project and U.S. Secretary of Interior (A.R.S. § 45-1902).
If formed, an Authority is administered by a board of directors; works with state agencies, special districts, authorities and political subdivisions of the state and the United States to augment the water supplies of the county in which the authority is established; and develops state water plans. (A.R.S. § 45-1941)
An Authority may:
1) acquire and dispose of real property, easements, and rights of way that are necessary for the uses and purposes of the authority;
2) construct projects;
3) acquire storage account credits;
4) acquire, transport, deliver, treat or recharge water;
5) issue revenue bonds upon resolution by the authority;
6) enter into contracts;
7) acquire electricity and other forms of energy for water supplies and to operate authority projects;
8) construct, operate, maintain and dismantle water augmentation projects; and
9) provide technical and financial assistance to develop water supplies to meet the management goals of the Groundwater Code (A.R.S. Title 45, Chapter 11, article 4).
An Authority receives a portion of groundwater augmentation and conservation assistance fees (A.R.S. § 45-1972).
Established in 1993, the Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority (PCWAA) develops and augments water resources for water users in the Pinal AMA.
Provisions
1. Expands the definition of project to include:
a) canals, pipelines, pumping stations, recovery wells, water facilities and treatment plants;
b) acquisition and rights to water; and
c) a loan of bond proceeds to acquire or construct facilities. (Sec. 1)
2. Allows monies to be deposited in the Authority’s general fund or in the bond fund. (Sec. 2)
3. Repeals and rewrites the authority to issue revenue bonds. (Sec. 4 and 5)
4. Modifies the scope of resolution for a bond issue. (Sec. 6)
5. In addition to the Board chairperson, allows the executive director or their designee to set a time and place for a board hearing. (Sec. 7)
6. Modifies requirements relating to bonds, including sale, redemption and issuance. (Sec. 8)
7. Repeals and rewrites the requirement for the board to notify the Attorney General of its intention to issue bonds. (Sec. 9 and 10)
8. Allows the Authority to borrow monies from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) and to enter into a loan repayment agreement. (Sec. 11)
9. Defines drinking water facility and wastewater treatment facility. (Sec. 11)
10. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8)
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14. SB 1134
15. Initials CW/KK Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy & Water
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