HomeMy WebLinkAboutLegislative OverviewLeague of Arizona Cities and Towns - Legislative Bulletin
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Issue 12 - March 28, 2014
Legislative Overview
Page 1 of 2
The fiscat year 2014-15 (FY 15) budget took center stage this week amidst long hours and a fair share of drama. The
House of Representatives was set to tackte a budget proposal mirroring the budget passed by the Senate last
Thursday. (A summary of that budget can be found here.) However, it soon become evident that there were
insufficient votes to pass that proposal on the floor of the House as they gathered on Monday night, and the
scheduled itoor session was effectively cancelled.
Over the foltowing three days, deep discussions were held in an attempt to reach a compromise on the budget. That
compromise was reached on Thursday evening with a revised budget proposat that spends approximately $54.3
million more in FY 15 than the $9.18 billion inctuded in the Senate proposat. This latest package was passed by the
House in the waning hours of Thursday night and was First Read in the Senate Friday moming, setting the stage for
Senate Appropriations and itoor action on the budget early next week. �
If this proposal is sent to the Governor and she signs it, the Legislature will likely begin its final labors on the path
to sine die; the end of the regular legislative session.
HURF Restoration
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 7-1 on Tuesday to pass HB 2692 (DPS; operating expenses;
appropriation; intent). Sponsored by Speaker of the House Andy Tobin (R-Pautden), the bill appropriates $119
million in each of the next two years from the state general fund to the Department of Pubtic Safety for operationat
expenses. If enacted, this would effectively restore Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) money to the proper
distribution formula. Cities and towns specifically rely on HURF revenue to maintain tocal roads. The League
strongly supports the measure and thanks Speaker Tobin for his leadership and support on the issue. However, with
the passage of the budget bills in the Senate and House that includes an increase of $30 million for locat HURF funds
over last years distribution, the fate of this bitl is uncertain at best.
Fire District Annexations
HB 2044 (5/E: fire district boundary changes) is now the vehicte for the fire district boundary change bilt, HB 2152.
The bill was the subject of a strike-everything amendment in Senate Appropriations on Tuesday, and passed by a
vote of 5-4. The measure sets forth requirements of certain speciat taxing districts, including fire districts, when
they seek to annex within a municipal planning area. The League supported the measure because municipal
taxpayers should not be forced to pay for providing fire response services that are the responsibility of another
entity; specificatty the bill requires these taxing districts get the permission of the adjacent municipatity before
they annex. This issue is atso the subject of a League Resotution. The measure now goes to the Rules Committee.
http://www.leagueaz.org/bulletin/14/140328/index.cfin?a=print 3/31 /2014
League of Arizona Cities and Towns - Legislative Bulletin
Public Records
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The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a strike-everything amendment on HB 2414 (5/E: public records;
burdensome requests). The strike-everything amendment essentiatly provides a definition of what may make a
public records request unduly burdensome. The strike-everything amendment was further amended to provide that
when denying a public records request it is a defense that the request was unduly burdensome or harassing. The
tanguage regarding the defense reflects what had been worked out between the League and representatives from
the newspaper association. In committee, Appropriations Chairman Senator pon Shooter (R-Yuma) stated that the
language contained in the underlying strike-everything amendment was the result of a mix-up and that the intended
plan is to remove the erroneous language on the floor. The League signed in neutral on the measure, but with the
changes discussed in committee, the League will support the bill. The League thanks Representative David Stevens
(R-Sierra Vista) for his work on this issue.
Other Bills of Note
(All bills being actively monitored by the League can be found here.)
Bill Number - Short Title - Subiect(s)
HB 2547: major event public safety reimbursement - public safety
Legislative Bulletin is published by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.
Forward your comments or suggestions to lea�ue@azleague.org.
http://www.leagueaz.org/bulletin/14/140328/index.cfin?a=print 3/31/2014