Legislative Updates 2004

Hi all! As you have probably seen, the Senate finally put together a deal on the Regional Transportation Plan for Maricopa County. The measure will likely go through and will be on the November ballot. Apparently, they are changing some of the firewalls ­ this is to prevent shifting of dollars from freeways to transit or visa versa. I am guessing that whatever the change, it is not good for transit. The bill to give Tucson the same kind of mechanism for transportation ­ HB2507 — also moved forward this week and its companion bill in the Senate will be heard on Tuesday. Also, SB1081 animal and ecological terrorism (Verschoor, Allen, Harper, et al) was defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee, but look for it to be back at some point. Senators questioned the constitutionality, the costs, and the need. There is an identical bill on Monday’s House Environment Committee agenda.

This week, please call your Representatives and ask them to oppose HCR2011 and HCR2016, both measures are intended to undercut the citizen initiative and referendum process. (See below.) Also, please call Senators on the Health Committee and ask them to support SB1227 climate change study committee. Senators on the committee include Cannell, Garcia, Hale, Harper, Hellon, Leff, Miranda, Binder, and Allen.

Don’t forget Environmental Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 10^th! Please r.s.v.p. now.

Here is what is coming up this week:

Monday, February 2^nd

House Committee on Environment at 1:30 pm in HHR 4

HB2244 water rights; Zuni settlement (Konopnicki, Hanson, Hubbs, et al) facilitates this water settlement and the ability to transfer water rights that are not appurtenant to the land.

HB2276 solid waste management; effective date (Hart) changes the effective date relative to federal law. It appears to be technical in nature.

HB2367 animal and ecological terrorism (Biggs, Quelland, C. Gray, Yarbrough) contains vague language and penalties for violent crimes that are already covered under existing laws, so this bill is unnecessary. The legislation is something conjured up by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and appears to be intended to suppress legitimate advocacy work rather than afford any greater protection to the public or provide a deterrent. The bill defines an "animal or ecological terrorist organization" in a manner that could be used to prosecute mainstream environmental groups engaged in nonviolent advocacy work, including lawful boycotts, permitted marches or demonstrations, and shareholders' motions raised at corporate meetings. The Sierra Club has long condemned violence, including that done in the name of protecting the environment. This bill is unnecessary, vague, and quite likely unconstitutional.

Senate Committee on Finance at 1:30 pm in SHR1

SB1074 transportation excise tax; election< (Blendu, Allen, Cannell R, et al) is an emergency measure which requires the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to call and conduct a county wide special election on May 18 for consideration of continuation of a ý cent sales tax for transportation for another 20 years. The dollars would be distributed as follows: 56.2% for freeways and highways, 10.5% streets, and 33.3% for public transportation. This will be amended for the deal.

SB1082 transportation excise tax; bifurcated election (Verschoor, Anderson, Bee, et al) provides for a regional transportation plan tax election for Maricopa County in November to extend the ý cent sales tax for 20 years. It requires that it be presented with three questions — yes and include light rail, yes and exclude light rail, or no to vote the whole thing down. I am assuming this will be defeated as the deal has been cut.

Tuesday, February 3^rd

House Committee on Public Institutions and Counties at 8:30 am in HHR5

HB2070 county planning; definition (Robson) defines a rezoning ordinance. I am watching this one.

HB2307 fire districts; lake improvement funds (Wagner, Nelson, O’Halleran, et al) restricts the use of these funds to only lakes where gas-powered watercraft are allowed. This is a ridiculous requirement.

House Committee on Appropriations at 1:00 pm in HHR1

HCR2011 voter approved expenditures; limitation (Konopnicki, Barnes, Gray C, Hubbs, et al) refers to the ballot a measure that undercuts voter approved ballot measures by allowing the legislature to proportionately reduce an appropriation for a specific purpose if the monies approved for the purpose are insufficient to cover all of the costs. The legislature is likely to always say there is not enough money in the general fund and easily divert dollars for conservation, health care, and education to other purposes.

HCR2016 tax increase by initiative; vote (Biggs, C. Gray, Quelland) refers to the ballot a measure that, if passed, requires an initiative or referendum that increases state revenues to have a two-thirds vote on the ballot. Considering very few measures pass with two-thirds votes, this would effectively hamstring efforts to get additional funding for preservation, for wildlife, or for any other program.

Senate Committee on Government at 1:30 pm in SHR3

There will be a striker on SB1039 dealing with military facilities preservation appropriation

Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee at 1:30 pm in SHR1

SB1060 motor vehicles; gas guzzler tax (Mead) establishes a tax on the sale or lease of new vehicles for non-commercial purposes. The tax rate decreases as the fuel economy increases. It ranges from 6.25% for vehicles getting 0-15 miles per gallon to 3.75% for vehicles getting over 50 miles per gallon. As you might guess, the Hummer H2 contingent is not too keen on the bill.

SB1084 solid waste program amendments (Allen, Blendu, Huffman) includes in the definition of inert material soil that contains no contaminants above the residential remediation levels, and requires solid waste treatment facilities and solid waste incinerators to develop solid waste facility plans, among other things.

SB1085 solid waste fees (Allen, Blendu Huffman) allows the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to adopt the annual fee for these facilities by rule. That way, they might be able to actually cover more of the costs.

SB1145 regional transportation authority; excise tax (Bee, Arzberger, Giffords, et al) gives authority to the Pima Association of Governments to develop a regional transportation plan and ask the voters for a ý cent sales tax.

SB1158 transporting hazardous materials; routing requirements (Waring Barnes, Hershberger, et al) allows the governor to waive rules relating to transportation of hazardous waste materials for up to 15 days during an emergency situation.

Wednesday, February 4^th

House Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture, Water and Native American Affairs at 9:00 a.m. in HHR4

Presentation on the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District -- this is part of the sprawl machine

Thursday, February 5^th

Senate Committee on Health at 8:30 a.m. in SHR1

SB1227 climate change study committee <(Giffords, Brotherton, L. Lopez, et al) establishes a study committee to look at the impacts of climate change on Arizona’s economy and environment and to recommend actions to help limit it.

Friday, February 6^th at 9:00 a.m. in HHR1

Joint Appropriations Meeting

Presentation on Department of Water Resources Budget

Thanks again for all you do! To email senators go to http://www.azleg.state.az.us/MemberRoster.asp and for house members to http://www.azleg.state.az.us/MemberRoster.asp#house. If you are not sure who your legislators are, please go to http://www.vote-smart.org/index.phtml or call the House or Senate information desks. If you're outside the Phoenix area, you can call your legislator's office toll free at 1-800-352-8404. In the Phoenix area call (602) 542-3559 (Senate) or (602) 542-4221 (House). Correspondence goes to 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890. For more information on legislation go to http://www.azleg.state.az.us/. To reach the Governor, call 602-542-4331 or toll free 1-800-253-0883. To email her, either click on this link or cut and paste it into your server http://www.governor.state.az.us/post/feedback.htm