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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
appropriation; state mine inspector; safety
Purpose
Appropriates $900,000 in FY 2026 from the state General Fund (state GF) to the State Mine Inspector for mine safety measures and software database acquisitions and upgrades.
Background
The State Mine Inspector is a constitutionally established elected office that is statutorily charged with inspecting every active underground mine with 50 or more employees at least once every three months and all other mines at least annually. The State Mine Inspector must inspect the operation, conditions, safety appliances, machinery, equipment, sanitation and ventilation, the means of ingress and egress, the means taken to protect the lives, health and safety of the miners, the cause of accidents and deaths occurring at the mine and the means taken to comply with the statutorily outlined regulations relating to minerals, oil and gas. The State Mine Inspector may enter and inspect any abandoned or inactive mine to determine whether any dangerous condition exists which may affect the health and safety of the general public. The State Mine Inspector at any time may enter, examine and inspect any mine and inspect any connected plant, equipment or any part of the workings of the mine. The mine operator or a designated representative must accompany the State Mine Inspector without unreasonable delay while conducting inspections (Ariz. Const. art. 19 § 0.1 and A.R.S. § 27-124).
The State Mine Inspector on March 31st each year must make and file with the Governor a statistical summary and report of the work during the year ending December 31st. The report must contain: 1) a statement showing the number of persons employed in each mine; 2) the number of persons employed above ground and underground; 3) the number and nature of fatal and serious accidents occurring in each mine; 4) the number of inspections made, complaints filed, inquests attended, mines or mine workings ordered to be vacated and violations found; and 5) other information deemed important, together with necessary or desirable recommendations (A.R.S. § 27-126).
H.B. 2269 appropriates $900,000 in FY 2026 from the state GF to the State Mine Inspector.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $900,000 in FY 2026 from the state GF to the State Mine Inspector for mine safety measures and software database acquisitions and upgrades.
2. Stipulates that the appropriation is exempt from lapsing.
3. Declares that it is the intent of the legislature to consider $100,000 of the amount appropriated as ongoing funding in future years.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
NREW 2/11/25 DP 10-0-0-0
APPROP 2/19/25 DP 18-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/26/25 53-5-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 7, 2025
SB/SN/slp