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Legislative Updates 2008Sierra Club 2008 Legislative Update #19 “I have learned through bitter experience the one supreme lesson: to conserve my anger and, as heat is transformed into energy, even so our anger can be transmuted into a power which can move the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi May 17, 2008 Hi all! The session is dragging on – the end appears to be nowhere in sight, although they could easily wrap up in a day or two if they figured out the budget. With all this time on their hands, some of the really bad and downright silly legislation continues to move, however. Thank you to everyone who called, emailed, and talked to people about HB2017 Now: greenhouse emissions; regulations; fuel economy (Konopnicki). The Governor vetoed it yesterday, which keeps the door open for implementation of the Clean Car Rule and other programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They may try to override it or put the ridiculous provisions in another bill, so continue to let legislators know you do not support this bill or these tactics. Please take a moment to thank the Governor for her veto. You can reach her at azgov@az.gov or go to http://azgovernor.gov/contact.asp and type in your message. Call 602-542-4331 or outside the Phoenix area 1-800-253-0883. You can also contact the governor via mail at: The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Governor of Arizona, 1700 West Washington, 9th Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85007 or by fax at 602-542-1381. Just when we thought a few of the whacky bills might die a quiet death. They’re baaack! Please ask you House members to vote no on SB1264 NOW: public rights-of-way; claims (Johnson). It is on the House Committee of the Whole Calendar for Monday. SB1264 asserts and claims, on behalf of the state and its political subdivisions, rights-of-way across public lands acquired after the effective date of Revised Statute 2477. SB1264 is likely to just create confusion rather than open up any roads as its proponents would like to do, but it is a bad message, and could slow down efforts to protect our public lands from irresponsible off-road vehicle use and to protect resources by closing certain roads. It could also cloud titles on private lands that were formally public lands. OPPOSE. To find your House members’ contact information just click on HOUSE or paste this website into your browser http://www.azleg.gov/memberRoster.asp?Body=H or you can call (602) 926-4221 or outside the Phoenix area 1-800-352-8404 and just ask to be connected to your House members’ offices. And now for some good news. It looks as if HB2766 and HB2614 will move forward this week. Please ask Senators to support both of these measures. HB2766 omnibus energy act of 2008 (Mason, Ch Campbell, McClure, et al.) promotes energy efficiency and clean renewable energy in Arizona. It requires school districts to reduce their energy consumption by 10% by July 1, 2011, 15% by July 1, 2015 and 20% by July 1, 2020; and it requires that school districts, universities, community colleges, and state agencies purchase 10 percent of their energy from renewable and nonpolluting energy sources. The bill gives schools flexibility to use the dollars they save on utilities to pay for capital investments that would help save energy. It includes additional provisions. SUPPORT. 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 2040. SUPPORT. To find your senator’s contact information just click on Senators or paste http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp?Body=S into your browser or you can call (602) 926-3559 or outside the Phoenix area 1-800-352-8404 and just ask for your senator’s office. Here is an update on a few other bills we are following: HCR2044 voter-protection; temporary budgetary suspension (Pearce, Barnes, Biggs, et al) still awaits action in the Senate Rules Committee. It refers to the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to reduce appropriations for measures approved by the voters in any year where there was a projected budget deficit of at least one percent. This would eviscerate the Voter Protection Act. OPPOSE. HB2156 NOW: railroad projects; review (Paton, Pancrazi) awaits action by the Senate Committee of the Whole where there will be an amendment. It requires railroads that are considering potential sites for a major rail project to notify the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). The railroad has to provide ADOT with the various alternatives for sites and routes and an assessment on the potential impacts to air quality, water resources, areas of historical or geographic significance, and the economic effects on the surrounding communities. SUPPORT. HB2221 county subdivisions; notification (Paton) had a strike everything on Green Building and still awaits action by the Rules Committee. It limits the ability of cities and towns to implement green building programs. OPPOSE. HB2333 county powers; outdoor fires (Mason) had a strike everything on renewable energy; generation; manufacturing; classification in Natural Resources and Rural Affairs. It is assigned to two other committees, so will die unless it is withdrawn. It lowers the property tax assessment ration for property using renewable energy and the manufacturing of renewable energy equipment. SUPPORT. HB2615 NOW: solar construction permits (Mason, Ableser, Reagan) awaits final action in the House. It specifies that counties and municipalities adopt standards for issuing permits for the use of solar photovoltaic systems and creates the Local Government Solar Equipment Permit Process Improvement Study Committee. SUPPORT. HB2772 NOW: groundwater transfers; Coconino plateau (Mason) passed out of the House 33-23-4 and is on the Governor’s desk. She is likely to sign it as the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources is supporting the bill. It allows the Town of Williams to transfer water from one basin to another – from the Verde Valley Sub-basin to the Coconino Plateau Basin, thus codifying a mistake into law and granting a special exception to the groundwater code. This bill ratifies a mistake and sets a bad precedent. Every time someone drills a well in the wrong location, will they be able to expect special legislation? In an age when we have much better mapping, GPS coordinates, and all kinds of ways to verify locations, this should not be happening. It also could put at risk springs and streams in the area. OPPOSE. SB1167 NOW: user fee; off-highway vehicles (L. Gray) is still stuck in the Republican Caucus. It provides funding for law enforcement and mitigation and restoration of areas damaged by off-road vehicles, plus limitations on where new trails can be built with the grant dollars. It is a step in the right direction to help better protect important public and private lands from irresponsible off-road vehicle activities. SUPPORT. SB1288 NOW: local stormwater pollution prevention programs (Flake, Rios: Barnes) was signed by the Governor. It establishes local pollutant discharge elimination system stormwater programs (county, town or agency of the state), collection of fees, and authorizes, but limits penalties for violations. It includes language that says the program can be no more stringent than the Clean Water Act and also any new ordinances or changes in ordinances can only comply with the “minimum requirements” of the Clean Water Act. This gives no flexibility to local communities to address local conditions that might require more protective standards. OPPOSE. Thank you for taking action on these important issues! 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 |