|
|||
| Political Action |
Legislative Updates 2008Sierra Club 2008 Legislative Update #6 February 15, 2008 Hello Conservation Friends! The usual suspects were out in force in the Water and Agriculture Committee this week seeking to ensure that we do not take any major steps forward relative to energy efficiency or renewables. Representatives from the Central Arizona Homebuilders Association, Salt River Project, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, and the list goes on, testified against many of the most important provisions in HB2766 omnibus energy act of 2008. They want the programs to be voluntary isn’t that what we have currently? Or they want to just ratify what they are already doing. We don’t need a bill for that. Just do a news conference. On that note, please contact members of the House Water and Agriculture Committee again this week and ask them to support clean renewable energy and to vote yes on HB2766! Ask them to keep this bill strong and to require Salt River Project to meet the same renewable energy requirements as other utilities they should not be able to take credit for old hydro power as part of their renewable portfolio. Also, ask them to keep in the efficiency requirements for new building construction. Members include Representatives Alvarez malvarez@azleg.gov, Brown jbrown@azleg.gov, J. Burns jburns@azleg.gov, Groe tgroe@azleg.gov, Kavanagh jkavanagh@azleg.gov, Mason (Chair) lmason@azleg.gov, Pancrazi lpancrazi@azleg.gov, Paton jpaton@azleg.gov, Stump bstump@azleg.gov, and Tom atom@azleg.gov. You can find complete contact information by clicking here Legislators. If you're outside the Phoenix area, you can call legislators’ offices toll free at 1-800-352-8404. In the Phoenix area call (602) 926-3559 (Senate) or (602) 926-4221 (House). Just ask them to connect you to the various legislators’ offices. HB2766 omnibus energy act of 2008 (Mason, Ch Campbell, McClure, et al.) is a multi-faceted bill to help promote energy efficiency and clean renewable energy. It includes a renewable energy standard and requires that 15% of the electricity come from renewable by 2025 (not all utilities are regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission) and a limited net metering provision. It establishes reporting requirements, goals, and standards for new residential and commercial construction 15% more efficient than the International Energy Conservation Code by 2012, 30% by 2016, and 50% by 2020 and also expands the energy savings goals for state buildings to 20% by 2015 and 30% by 2020. It requires school districts to reduce their energy consumption and requires that school districts, universities and state agencies purchase 10 % of their energy from renewable and nonpolluting energy sources. HB2766 requires that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in cooperation with the Department of Weights and Measures conduct a study on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fuels and gives ADEQ authority to adopt a low-carbon fuel standard in 2011 if the federal government and the state legislature have not. It includes other provisions as well. Also, contact members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and ask them to oppose SB1110! SB1110 funds; elimination; transfer (Burns) subjects the State Lake Improvement to legislative appropriation. While this sounds relatively innocuous, it would further hinder the State Parks Board’s ability to protect and manage our 31 parks in Arizona, and significantly and negatively affect the State Parks budget. Already, Parks has been hit by repeated sweeps in these funds and the failure of the Legislature to provide adequate general funding for the agency. The SLIF has been subject to sweeps by the Arizona Legislature including in the FY2002 budget where $6 million was swept, the FY2003 where $10 million was swept, and the FY2004 budget where $6.8 million was swept. Eliminating the transfer will likely ensure that these dollars actually make it to State Parks even less frequently. To view a list of Appropriations Committee members and their contact information, please click here Appropriations. Coming up this week: Monday, February 18 Senate Committee on Government at 1:30 p.m. in SHR3 SB1076 sign walkers; municipal regulation (Harper) has been modified from last year, but still requires municipalities to allow the use of sign walkers, but allows their regulation. OPPOSE. SB1237 county development fees; schools (Waring) prohibits counties from assessing school districts or charter schools development fees for streets, sewers, etc. WATCH. SB1387 real estate disclosure; training ranges (Bee) strike everything requires notification regarding development near a military electronics range. WATCH. SB1390 county land divisions; access (Flake) allows the county to require road access for land divisions and to specify where for public safety purposes. SUPPORT. Senate Committee on Judiciary at 1:30 p.m. in SHR1 SB1014 gubernatorial nominations; senate confirmation process (C. Gray) requires the governor to fill vacancies promptly, whether or not the legislature is in session, and allows people to continue to serve until the vacancy has been filled. SB1405 elections laws; county provisions (C. Gray) makes several changes including making early voting available 93 days before the election rather than 90 and requiring an on-site early voting location at the county recorder’s office to be open and available for use at least 26 days before the election. SCR1021 accountability; clean elections for judges (C. Gray, Blendu, Johnson, et al) refers to the ballot a measure that provides for election of judges in Maricopa County. Is this really a good idea? House Committee on Ways and Means at 1:30 p.m. in House Hearing Room 4 HB2614 renewable energy valuation; expiration extension (Mason, Miranda, O’Halleran, et al) extends the date for the property tax incentive for the valuation of renewable energy equipment from 2011 to 2025. SUPPORT. House Committee on Public Institutions and Retirement at 1:30 p.m. in House Hearing Room 5 HB2055 ASRS; employer termination incentive program (McClure) S/E voting county board of supervisors changes the number of supervisors in smaller counties from three to five. Tuesday, February 19 House Committee on Counties, Municipalities & Military Affairs at 1:30 p.m. in HHR 5 HB2615 solar energy systems; permits (Mason, Ableser, Reagan) requires cities and counties to adopt the Maricopa Association of Governments solar permitting standards. HB2156 railroad sites; review (Paton, Pancrazi) allows the Arizona Corporation Commission to review any proposed rail projects on land to be acquired by eminent domain, threat of eminent domain or auction and to hold at least one public hearing on the proposal. SUPPORT. House Committee on Government at 1:30 p.m. in House Hearing Room 4 HB2524 agricultural improvement districts; amendments (Crandall) allows Salt River Project to conduct its elections entirely by mail, allows someone who is the holder of an irrevocable trust to vote in the SRP elections (currently only the property owner can vote), requires nominating petitions to be filed 60 days prior to the election (it is currently 20), and makes other changes. WATCH Senate Committee on Transportation at 1:30 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room 3 SB1420 toll roads; public highway authorities (Tibshraeny) establishes authority for toll roads. OPPOSE. SB1465 transportation: innovative partnerships program (Gould: Harper, Huppenthal et al) allows ADOT to establish these partnerships. This would mean even less accountability to the public. OPPOSE. SB1466 rest area privatization; state highways (Gould: Harper, Groe) means “Welcome to McDonalds” at the rest areas throughout the state. This requires that the Arizona Department of Transportation privatize all rest areas. We don’t need bigger, brighter, and more developed rest areas throughout the state. OPPOSE. SB1471 HOV lane conversion; toll lane (Gould, Groe) authorizes ADOT to make a request to convert the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on 51 to a toll lane, likewise with other freeways. This defeats the purpose of the HOV lanes. OPPOSE. SB1495 light rail performance audit (Gorman: Blendu, Gould, et al) requires a performance audit if it is not completed by January 1, 2009. Why not require this for freeways that are not completed on time? SB1498 public-private partnerships in transportation (Gorman: Blendu, Harper) is a slightly different take on the whole public-private partnership proposal, but it also seems as if it will have the same problems as SB1465. OPPOSE. SB1502 FAST lanes (Gorman: Blendu, Nichols) requires ADOT to issue contracts for freeway acceleration lanes. OPPOSE. Senate Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 p.m. in SHR 109 SB1110 funds; elimination; transfer (Burns) See above. Wednesday, February 20 House Committee on Natural Resources and Public Safety at 9:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 1 HB2333 county powers; outdoor fires (Mason) allows a county to regulate outdoor fires during times of emergency when the conditions are especially dry. SUPPORT HB2511 oil and gas; shut-in royalty (Konopnicki) makes modifications relative to oil and gas lease extension provisions if there are transportation barriers. WATCH. HCR2037 constitutional rights; game and fish (JP Weiers, Adams, Barnes et al) limits the authority of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to regulate wildlife consistent with its duties prescribed in Title 17 and limits the rights of citizens to enact legislation by initiative pursuant to Article IV, Part 1, Section 1, of the Arizona Constitution. At a minimum, this proposal would create inconsistent provisions regarding initiative rights within the Arizona Constitution. OPPOSE. House Committee on Environment at 1:30 p.m. in House Hearing Room 5 HB2425 underground storage tanks; energy act (Barnes, M. Garcia, Ableser, et al) provides additional regulation and disclosure relative to underground storage tanks in order to address leakage. SUPPORT HB2427 air quality; Pinal emissions testing (Barnes: Garcia, McGuire, et al) requires emissions testing for Area C - a portion of Pinal County. SUPPORT. HB2537 air quality; motor fuel (Barnes, Robson) makes changes relative to allowable ethanol blends. HB2725 vehicle emission testing; onboard diagnostics (Nichols) allows vehicles subject to onboard diagnostic checks to take the tailpipe emissions test. House Committee on Commerce at 9:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 5 HB2822 pest control; department of agriculture (Crandall: Biggs, Boone) gives the Department of Agriculture the responsibility for structural pest regulation. Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Rural Affairs at 1:30 p.m. in SHR 109 SB1029 AMA water districts; conflicting versions (Tibshraeny) repeals a conflicting version in the statute and is merely technical. SB1288 local stormwater quality programs (Flake, Rios: Barnes) authorizes establishment of local programs, collection of fees for permits, and authorizes, but limits penalties for violations. It includes language that says the program can be no more stringent than the Clean Water Act. I am still reviewing this, but expect we may object to it. WATCH. SB1438 mine inspector; surplus property (Flake O’Halleran, Konopnicki, et al) will have a strike everything amendment (not yet posted) on mine inspector; abandoned mines; donations. SB1458 state parks; residents; fees (Gould, Groe: Harper) directs the Parks Board to establish a lower fee for residents than for non-residents. SCR1031 wildfire suppression budget reform (O’Halleran, Mason, Tobin) is a resolution asking the federal government to increase wildfire funding and to support the core functions of the forest service. Senate Committee on Finance at 1:30 p.m. in SHR 1 SB1289 flood protection districts; financing (Flake) establishes an assessment option to fund construction and repair of flood protection facilities. WATCH. SB1463 tax deduction; sewer expenses (Gould: Groe) allows a tax deduction for sewer expense. Thursday, February 21 House Committee on Water and Agriculture at 9:30 a.m. in House Hearing Room 1 HB2588 lottery game; energy efficient schools (Robson, Mason: Boone, et al) establishes a special lottery game to fund energy efficiency programs in schools. It may be okay, but have to check on whether it will affect other important lottery-funded programs, such as the Heritage Fund. HB2618 schools; energy savings loan fund (Mason, Allen) establishes an energy and water savings loan fund. There is a blank regarding the amount to be appropriated. Getting dollars here will be tough given the current budget situation. SUPPORT. HB2619 new schools; energy standards (Mason) requires projects funded by the New School Facilities Fund to conform to standards established by the School Facilities Board for energy and water performance. SUPPORT. HB2766 omnibus energy act of 2008 (Mason, Ch Campbell, McClure, et al.) See above. HB2772 groundwater transfers; drought emergency (Mason) is an annual bill to allow these during drought emergencies. House Committee on Judiciary at 9:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 4 HB2364 election law amendments (Crandall, Reagan: Adams, et al) makes numerous changes to the election laws including changes to filling a vacancy in a congressional seat. WATCH. House Committee on Transportation at 9:00 a.m. in HHR3 Presentation by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Arizona Automobile Dealers Association on the Automobile Industry & the Environment; Progress Report. This should be an extremely short presentation. HB2280 emission testing; motorcycles; area A (JP Weiers: McLain, Nichols, et al) exempts motorcycles in Area A from emissions, provided that the Environmental Protection Agency allows the amendment to the State Implementation Plan. Apparently they think this will have limited impact on air quality, but I question whether we really should let them off the hook. For more information on bills we are tracking, go to http://arizona.sierraclub.org/political_action/tracker/. To email legislators go to http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp. If you are not sure who your legislators are, please go to http://www.vote-smart.org (You will need your 9-digit zipcode.) or call the House or Senate information desks. If you're outside the Phoenix area, you can call your legislators’ offices toll free at 1-800-352-8404. In the Phoenix area call (602) 926-3559 (Senate) or (602) 926-4221 (House). Correspondence goes to 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890. For more information on legislation go to http://www.azleg.gov.
Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd, Suite 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 253-8633 |