Senate Judiciary Committee Agenda

Agendas can be viewed at http://www.azleg.state.az.us/CommitteeAgendas.asp

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting the Senate Secretary’s Office, (602) 926-4231 (voice). Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

DATE: Monday, March 31, 2008
TIME: 1:30 P.M.
ROOM: SHR 1

SENATORS: Cheuvront Miranda Gould, Vice-Chairman
Hale Waring Gray C, Chairman Johnson


1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Consideration of Bills

Bills

Short Title
Subject of Strike Everything
Amendment

HB2190
____
constable ethics; board; membership(Driggs)

HB2207
____
sentencing; reorganization(Farnsworth, Adams, Biggs, et al)

HB2321
____
identity theft; factual innocence(now: factual innocence; judicial determination; procedure)(Driggs, Pancrazi, Schapira, et al)

*HB2451
____
election security provisions(Reagan, Barto, Paton, et al)

HB2478
____
redaction orders; expiration; notice; funds(Adams: Crandall, Crump, et al)

HB2480
____
aggravated luring; minors; sexual exploitation(Adams: Burges, Campbell CH, et al)

HB2623
____
constables; peace officers status(Pearce, Burges, Burns J, et al)

*HB2660
____
joint; several liability; criminal offenses(now: obscene or dangerous material; liability)(Nichols)

HB2793
____
census; precinct line freeze(McComish: Clark)

HB2813
____
ballot measures; publicity pamphlets(now: civil action; affirmative defense)(Kavanagh)

**HB2842
____
forgery; drop house property transactions(Driggs, Paton: Adams, et al)


*Pending Committee Assignment
**Pending passage by the House, Introduction, First Reading and Committee Assignment

Committee on Financial Institutions, Insurance, and Retirement

Agendas can be viewed at http://www.azleg.state.az.us/CommitteeAgendas.asp

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting the Senate Secretary’s Office, (602) 926-4231 (voice). Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT

DATE: Monday, March 31, 2008
TIME: 1:30 P.M.
ROOM: SHR 2

SENATORS: McCune Davis, Verschoor, Gorman, Chairman Rios, Huppenthal, Vice-Chairman

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Consideration of Bills

Bills

Short Title
Subject of Strike Everything
Amendment

*HB2017
____
joint underwriting and reinsurance organizations(Konopnicki)
state treasurer; employee test

HB2031
____
insurance; technical changes; definitions(Konopnicki)

*HB2060
____
ASRS; required distributions; citation correction(McClure)
ASRS: benefits; refunds

HB2081
____
captive insurers; authority(Konopnicki)

HB2224
____
service company contracts(McLain)

HB2282
____
schools; textbook purchases; technical correction(now: insurance transactions; false disclosures)(Tobin)

HB2513
____
insurance; authorized reinsurance(now: stranger originated life insurance)(Konopnicki)

HB2649
____
prearranged funeral agreements(McComish)

*Strike everything amendment may be offered

Senate Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

Agendas can be obtained at http://www.azleg.state.az.us/CommitteeAgendas.asp

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting the Senate Secretary’s Office, (602) 926-4231 (voice). Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

ARIZONA STATE SENATE Forty-eighth Legislature - Second Regular Session


MEETING NOTICE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT


DATE: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
TIME: 10:00 A.M. NOTE TIME CHANGE
ROOM: SHR 3


SENATORS: Allen Gorman Blendu, Vice-Chairman
Burton Cahill Miranda Leff, Chairman
Cheuvront Tibshraeny


1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Executive Nomination

ARIZONA AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE COMMISSION
Matthew John Korbeck

COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Fred Price DuVal
Vicki Lynn Chandler

STATE BOARD OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS
Richard W. O'keeffe

ARIZONA HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY
Carol Jacqueline Parry

ARIZONA STATE LOTTERY COMMISSION
Leo Victor Valdez


5. Consideration of Bills

Bills

Short Title
Subject of Strike Everything
Amendment
____
HB2123
____
park model trailer spaces(now: landlord charges; utilities)(McClure)


HB2483
____
ignition strength of cigarettes; regulation(McComish, Reagan, Schapira, et al)


HB2526
____
border regional port authority(Crandall, Ulmer)

HB2590
____
school bonds; computer hardware(Crandall, Reagan, Sinema, et al)


HB2658
____
insurance contracts; small employer coverage(Reagan, Adams, Cajero Bedford, et al)


HB2826
____
liquor wholesalers; promotional items.(McComish: DeSimone, Cheuvront)

4/2/08 House Environment Committee Agenda

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Forty-eighth Legislature - Second Regular Session

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT

DATE

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

ROOM

HHR 5

TIME

1:30 P.M.

Members:

Mr. Ableser Mrs. McGuire Ms. Ulmer

Mr. Anderson Ms. Reagan Mr. Robson, Vice-Chairman

Mr. Crump Mr. Tobin Mr. Barnes, Chairman

Ms. Garcia M

___________________________________________________________________________

	Bills		Short Title	Strike Everything Title
	SB1095	_____ _____	air quality; clean burning gas (Flake, Aguirre, Blendu) ENV, RULES
	SB1384	_____ _____	Arizona emissions bank (Blendu) ENV, RULES

House and Senate Committee Agendas

Dear Friends,

Please, if you are interested in legislation being considered at the Capitol, click on this link: www.azleg.gov/StandingCom.asp

The link leads you to a page on the AZ Legislative Website, www.azleg.gov that allows you to view all committee meetings being held in the upcoming week, including date, time, & location.

There is a list of all standing committees in the House & Senate & you can view the agenda of each committee. For example, if you are interested in Water-related legislation, click on the Water & Agriculture committee (a House committee of which I am a member). This will lead you to a page containing upcoming agendas for the meeting & what bills are to be considered. Committee members are listed along with their email address in case you would like to write them regarding a bill. You can also find out who is sponsoring the bill, read the minutes for past committee meetings, or even view the committee meeting live via the internet.

If there is a bill that sparks your interest, note the bill number. On almost every page of the legislative website, in the upper right corner there is a box that allows you to plug in the number to take you to a page with that bill information. On this page, you can read the bill as it is written or you can read the bill summary. You can see the bill's sponsors & view any proposed amendments.

If all this is a bit much & you need assistance, please call my competent assistant, Christina Miller & she can walk you through the process. Do not ever hesitate to call or write with concerns, complaints, & questions.

HB 2132 is a Good Thing for Mohave County

MOHAVE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
Tom Griffin, Chairman
Maureen R. George, General Counsel
P.O Box 2419
Bullhead City, Arizona 86430

HB 2132 is a Good Thing for Residents of Mohave County.

The Mohave County Water Authority (MCWA) is pleased to announce the progress to date of HB 2132 through the Arizona legislature. This bill, sponsored at our request by Representatives Nancy Mclain and Trish Groe, makes available for full use by our members, Bullhead City (BHCj, Lake Havasu City (lHC), Mohave County Water District (MCWOl. Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District (MVIDD), Golden Shores Irrigation District (G510), City of Kingman and Mohave County, 3500 acre feet of 4th priority Colorado River water. Our members unanimously voted in August 2007 to request this legislation.

Contrary to recent news reports:

(1) this is a very good thing for reSidents of the river communities as well as the City of Kingman, which would receive funds for water resource improvements. It does not take away the water, it in fact makes it available for all uses, including industrial.

(2) The water is currently under contract to MCWA and the contract with the Department of the Interior provides that it may be used for all municipal and industrial purposes. It is a State law restriction which imposes the industrial use limitation. The water has been available for industrial use for ten plus years and not one application has been requested. Our members are very concerned about the loss of this water if it is not put to beneficial use by adding it to the water portfolio of our various members.

(3) Members Kingman, BHC, and LHC already have a portion of their water portfolio used by industry and all are actively pursuing industrial development.

(4) The water has not yet been subcontracted to anyone.

MCWA, in 2007, was successful in getting this water under contract. We need to be sure it is put to the best use, as determined by our various member agencies through their eleeted or appointed governing bodies.

Mayor Mark Nexsen of Lake Havasu City, Mayor Jack Hakim of Bullhead City, MCWA Chairman Tom Griffin and Mohave County Supervisor Tom Sockwell have all testified at the legislature in favor of this legislation which has broadbased support in the water community statewide.

As noted by Chairman Tom Griffin: "This water is for use by our members and their citizens, not a special interest group. We ask these citizens to let our legislators know of their support."

HB 2132~Supervisor Tom Sockwell Statement of Support

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MARCH 19, 2008
CHAIRMAN FLAKE & MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE:

Good afternoon. I am Tom Sockwell, a member of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors and the County's appointed representative to the Mohave County Water Authority. I am here to urge your support of HB 2132. For those of you who may not know, the members of the Authority, in addition to Mohave County, are Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, the City of Kingman, Mohave Water Conservation District, Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District and Golden Shores Irrigation District. The members voted unanimously to seek the legislation which is before you today as HB 2132.

The purpose of this legislation is to eliminate the industrial use restriction on a portion of Mohave County Water Authority's (Authority) Colorado River allocation in order to make said water available for all municipal and industrial uses, including industrial, commercial and residential uses.

Industrial uses are defined in ARS 45-2201 (8) as follows: 8. "Industrial use" means a non-agricultural use of water not supplied by a city, town or private water company, including animal industry use as defined in § 45-402. Since MCWA's formation in 1996 it has not received a single request for water for an industrial use. During that same time frame our members have been looking for additional water for municipal purposes (which includes industrial uses).

The Authority's members have done water resource planning, drought planning, and water conservation planning and implementation in order to deal responsibly with water resource issues. These efforts, however, still leave Mohave County's river communities, both incorporated and unincorporated, without sufficient water. This legislation would serve to restore to those Mohave County communities, for full use, 3500 alf of 4th priority water always intended for such use, consistent with the Authority's contract with the Bureau of Reclamation.

The water has not yet been allocated among our members since passage of this legislation is necessary to put it to full use. Authority policy is to first offer the water to Authority members based on need as supported by the water resource demands of the various members. Four of our members have expressed an interest in acquiring this water if the industrial use limitation is removed, including unincorporated areas in Mohave Valley and Golden Shores. In fact Golden Shores needed this water yesterday but we needed to wait for the Arizona Water Settlements Act to be effective. One of the provisions of this settlement was that this water would be restored to MCWA for all municipal and industrial purposes. One of the reasons the Authority has been successful to date is the ability of our members to assess their various needs and fairly apportion its resources in response to same and seeks this legislation to permit it to continue doing so.

I am here, therefore, to seek your approval of HB 2132 which will eliminate the industrial restriction on the 3500 a/f. This would then result in additional water being available to Authority members for municipal use as well as providing the City of Kingman with additional funds to develop its groundwater resources. With passage of this legislation Kingman's additional water developed with these funds, as well as the water which would be subcontracted to our members, would be available for a wide range of uses as determined by the elected officials and boards of our various members to whom subcontracts would be made available. Included in those uses would most certainly be industrial uses as illustrated, for example, by the development of industrial parks in Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Bullhead City and the importance those communities place on industrial development. Likewise as Golden Shores and the Mohave Valley develop they will see increased demand for water for ALL uses, which will in all likelihood include industrial uses. The distribution of this water, however, should be left to those local communities who are best positioned to assess the competing demands in their area.

Thank you for your attention.
Tom Sockwell
Mohave County Board of Supervisors
P.O. Box 7000
Kingman, Arizona 86402
928 753-9141
Tom.Sockwell@co.mohave.az.us

SB1331 and HB2723~Communities Facilities Districts

For the first time in state history, enactment of this bill would extend the privilege to levy a government-authorized sales tax to appointed officials of a Community Facilities District (CFD) who do not stand for election and who are not subject to recall.

The bill is narrowly drafted to apply primarily to one situation in the community of Tusayan near the Grand Canyon. It changes the property ownership standard for establishing a CFD tax from 100% of the property owners to only 51%, an amount which could be controlled by one landowner or special interest.

The property-ownership standard is in statute to authorize the imposition of a secondary property tax. Land ownership has nothing to do with instituting a sales tax.

The tax rate proposed in this bill is 5%, the highest local sales tax rate in the state. The small Town of Fredonia has a sales tax rate of 4%, but most other cities and towns have a rate of 2-3%.

Arizona’s sales tax system is already complex and taxpayer compliance can be challenging. Expanding sales tax authority to special districts will clearly increase compliance costs as both taxpayers and the Department of Revenue attempt to keep track of new jurisdictions.

There is a proper way to tax for infrastructure construction: a CFD can authorize a secondary property tax, or the community could incorporate as a town and adopt a sales tax by an elected town council. (There are already statutory provisions that allow this community to incorporate with as few as 500 people rather than the usual number of 1,500. A local group is actively working toward holding an incorporation vote.)

This bill is narrow, special interest legislation at its worst and sets a dangerous precedent. Soon other tiny communities of 350 people could establishing their own sales taxes without a vote of either an elected town council or the people.

Constituent Mail: BHC Photo Radar

NOTE: I received this email from a constituent in BHC who, much like myself, strongly opposes Photo Radar. The constituent asked me to print this on the blog as he/she doubted it would be printed in the paper.

Dear Editor,

Bullhead City is not a sleepy little fishing town anymore. We are on the map as the home of the Arizona Tax Revolt that has taxing entities across the state realizing that the jig is up and that property taxes will soon be reduced and future increases limited. In the tradition of Paul Revere, Neil Young’s article has alerted us to the very real possibility of Photo Radar. This technology can be used to ticket BOTH red light runners and someone going a few miles per hour over the speed limit.

See their Press Release: http://www.redflex.com/public_documents/asx_announcements/2008-02-18%20Chillicothe%20Ohio.pdf

I am very much opposed to the deployment of this technology because it is simply too Orwellian, and frankly it being considered merely as a means of revenue enhancement. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Council approve it guided only by staff’s desire that the bureaucracy be sustained at its present level at a time when sales tax revenue has dipped. Of course the Council may be looking at Photo Radar as a means to fund expensive new pet projects like an aquatic or convention center. Apparently some Council members don’t consider speeding tickets given out by robots to be a tax on motorists, each of which will likely net several hundred dollars shared between the Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. and Bullhead City.

I believe that Bullhead City residents, already angry at the Police crackdown on traffic infractions while crimes like burglaries and worse go unsolved, would be willing to circulate a Referendum petition to require that Council approval of these systems be decided by the people. Or of course the Council could refer this question to the ballot themselves rather than deciding such a contentious issue for us. Speak up now or it may be too late!

Mohave County PC Meeting

Mohave County Republican Central Committee PC Quarterly Meeting

When: Saturday, April 5th at 9:00am

Where: Shriner's Building, 2580 Miracle Mile, BHC, AZ

Directions: From the south, coming north on Hwy 95, turn right on Marble Canyon, just north of Wal-Mart, then left onto Miracle Mile. The Shriner's building is on the right a few blocks down.

From the north, coming south on Hwy 95, turn left at the signal Marina Drive, then right at the stop sign, Miracle Mile. Shriner Building will be on the left a few blocks down.

Contact: Buster Johnson 928-566-7529

Legislative Salute Dinner

The Arizona Republican Party
Invites you to

Honor our Republican Legislators
at the

Legislative Salute Dinner

with very special guest speaker

Grover Norquist
of American’s for Tax Reform

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
6:00 p.m. VIP Reception
7:00 p.m. Dinner & Program

The Chaparral Suites Hotel
5001 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85250


Please RSVP to Amilyn Gordon at 602-957-7770 or via email at agordon@azgop.org .

Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes.
Contributions by foreign nationals are prohibited.

AZ Federation of Republican Women Day at the Legislature

NOTE: I will be attending and participating in this event.

From Cyndi Collins, President AzFRW:

The AzFRW Day at the Legislature will be held next Friday, March 28.

10:00am Group Photo in Wesley Bolin Park

10:30am/11:30am House Hearing Room 1

Hon. Laura Knaperek will be explain the role of lobbyists, how bill are created and we will be role playing.

11:30am/12:30pm House Floor

GOP representatives will explain how bills are created, discussed and voted on as we sit at lawmakers' desks.

1:00pm/1:45pm Lunch/2nd Floor Conference Room of the Executive Tower
Speakers: State Treasurer Dean Martin & State School Superindendint Tom Horne

2:00pm/2:45pm Tour Sec. of State Office, 7th Floor, Executive Towner

Half the group will split and tour Old Capitol Building w/Chloe Kavanaugh

2:55pm/3:30pm Groups exchange tour guides.

Cost: $18 per person includes lunch w/soft drink, cookies and choice of:

Oriental Chicken Salad
Southwest Chicken
Chicken Caesar Salad

Please wear Red to show how proud we are to be Republican women!


tucsonblonde@cox.net

HB 2269 ~Prevents Nurses from Performing Abortions

NOTE: Click the above link and you will be taken to the summary of the bill. Now, notice the title of the bill refers to Behavioral Health Copying Fees but the language of the bill has been amended to reflect the subject discussed below. This is an example of a "striker" or a bill that has been amended with a "strike-everything" amendment. The old language of the bill is stricken and the new language added.


From Cathi Herrod, President of the Center for Arizona Policy:

Two weeks ago, I told you about a nurse practitioner who has been performing surgical abortions for Planned Parenthood. For months, the Board of Nursing has been reviewing the situation but failing to take any action.

This week, the Board of Nursing again looked at the matter, and many Board members expressed doubt that a surgical abortion is within a nurse’s scope of practice. Amazingly, the Board refused to intervene, allowing this nurse to continue to perform first and second trimester surgical abortions! State law does not authorize non-doctors to perform abortions, but, according to Planned Parenthood, this has been their regular practice for the past eight years. Because the Board of Nursing continues to delay and Planned Parenthood continues to defy the obvious implications of current law, Rep. Bob Stump proposed a bill (HB 2269) specifically prohibiting nurses from performing surgical abortions. The reaction from abortion advocates has been bordering on panic, as they struggle to find doctors willing to take the lives of preborn babies. This is a huge safety issue. If something goes wrong, women need a doctor, not a nurse. Abortion advocates claim to care about women’s health but oppose a reasonable bill like this one that will protect women from having a risky surgical procedure performed by a non-doctor.

HB 2269 passed through the House Rules Committee and the party caucuses and will be debated during COW on the House floor next week.

Constituent Mail: SB1214~Concealed Weapons, School Grounds

NOTE: This piece of constituent mail was written to a Senator (not our Senator Gould) who voted against SB 1214 which allows people with a valid CCW permit to carry on the grounds of a community college or university.

Dear Senator "XYZ",

We are two of your voting constituents (District "007") and voted for you in your last election. You are our voice and we want you to vote YES on SB 1214!

This bill is to allow people with a concealed weapons (CCW) permit "to carry" on a school campus. Have you taken a Concealed Weapons training course, Senator "XYZ"? We are trained not only on how to use a weapon, but when NOT TO USE a weapon. If I am in fear for my life, my weapon "might" be used only if certain safety criteria are met first before shooting. We are taught gun safety! A CCW permit holder is not imitating the Wild West days of Jesse James and running ramped or firing a gun at will.

You have upheld our Second Amendment rights in the past and we demand that our rights to carry a concealed weapon even on a school campus be honored as well.

Thank you for your YES vote on SB 1214, and we look forward to hearing back from you on this matter.

THE FISCAL NOTE

An Examination of Tax and Fiscal Matters by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club

Economic Stimulus: What to Embrace, What to Avoid

Former U.S. Treasury economist Stephen Entin wrote: There is no such thing as a quick, temporary fiscal stimulus for the economy that does not lead to offsetting damage down the road. The only worthwhile tax changes that are beneficial in the short run are those that are also beneficial in the long run, ones that lead to a tax system with fewer obstacles to production.

There has been much discussion recently around designing an “economic stimulus” package for Arizona. It is easy to see why. Revenues for fiscal year 2008 will be up only 1%, and we’ll be lucky if 2009 is any better. What to do? Given the backdrop from Mr. Entin, here are some suggestions.

AVOID: Do not incur additional debt to “stimulate” construction activity. A plan being circulated by universities and contractors to borrow $1.4 billion to facilitate construction at Arizona’s three universities is not an economics stimulus package. Here’s why. If the state needs to issue additional debt to cover the activity of construction, it is simply borrowing the economic benefit created by the construction, leaving no additional benefit to the public, since they (we) own the debt. Arizona already faces a state and local debt burden of $32 billion, which is 16th highest in the country as a percentage of personal income, and the state has a $3 billion budget deficit. The added debt from this proposal will be extremely painful long-term.

AVOID: Do not advance a plan comprised of tax credits, new spending items, and new debt packages. In the face of Arizona’s huge budget deficit, a plan being discussed in the House to add new credits, grants, and spending would exacerbate the problem. With mounting debt and flat revenues, adding new subsidies and spending items will further choke off economic growth. Economic stimulus packages require an incentive effect. When tax rates are cut, for example, the incentive to earn the next dollar increases, since the return on investment is now greater. Tax credits, like rebates or subsidies, have no incentive effect, do not increase output or demand, and simply leave fewer taxpayers to pay for existing services.


SUPPORT: Make the 2006 state equalization tax cut permanent. Isn’t it ironic that proponents of a construction “stimulus package” are some of the same people who oppose making permanent the temporary elimination of the state equalization rate? There is no compelling reason to not make permanent a tax cut that lawmakers and the governor saw fit to provide in 2006. There is no negative impact to the state’s general fund next year by passing this permanent moratorium. Raising taxes $250 million in an economy that is already experiencing anemic growth, however, will further slow economic recovery. It will drive up expenses for everyone from latte drinkers to the construction industry (and everyone in between). Any economic stimulus plan that doesn’t include making this tax cut permanent isn’t a serious plan.


Given the state’s $3 billion budget deficit for 2008 and 2009 and the membership of the House and Senate, it is well-understood that asking for more than the permanent repeal of the state equalization tax is pushing the envelope. If, however, there is interest in other stimulus plans that will have both a short and long-term benefit to our economy and tax code, here are two:

SUPPORT: Reduce Arizona’s business personal property tax. Reducing the tax on business equipment, or allowing for immediate expensing, would spur new spending on plants and equipment, increase wages, increase jobs, and ultimately increase tax revenue to the state. A recent study completed for Idaho by Stephen Entin at the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation demonstrates the economic benefits of this rate cut.

SUPPORT: Reduce Arizona’s corporate income tax rate. Arizona’s tax on corporate income is 6.968% and is among the highest in the west (behind only California and New Mexico). Corporate taxes affect three things: 1) customers, through prices; 2) shareholders, through returns on invested capital; and 3) employees, through employment opportunities and wage growth. According to a new study by Fritz Foley and Mihir Desai of Harvard and James Hines of the Univ. of Michigan, workers share between 45 and 70 percent of the corporate tax burden. Reducing corporate taxes down to 4.76%, the average among western states, would instantly make Arizona more competitive in the region and across the country, increase after tax profits, increase employment opportunities, and increase wage growth. Reducing this tax to 4.54% would place the corporate income tax on equal footing with Arizona businesses and individuals who file income taxes in the state’s highest personal income tax bracket. In a fair tax system that encourages growth, neutrality is paramount.


Finally, the adage of “First, do no harm,” applies to this debate. Cutting taxes on capital would be the preferred tax changes to help Arizona’s economy both short and long-term. Short of that, however, doing nothing is far better than some of what’s being discussed at the Capitol.

###

The Arizona Free Enterprise Club is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization whose mission is to advance policies that promote a strong and vibrant Arizona economy. The Club believes that entrepreneurs and private enterprise are the principle drivers of our economy. The Club lobbies Arizona lawmakers in support of policies that allow the market to flourish and vigorously opposes policies that hinder private industry. Visit us at www.azfec.org.

Havasu Heals Havasu

A message from Kathy Hodel and the Havasu Community Health Foundation:

Our local Cancer Association of Havasu created a new educational program called "Havasu HEALS Havasu". The program includes a 30 minutes television show on TV 45 hosted by Theresa and a quarterly newsletter that will be inserted in our newspaper.

The goal is to educate our residents on cancer prevention and also inform them what services are available in Havasu if you have cancer. IT'S ALL LOCAL!

Our TV show will be airing on TV 45:

Wednesdy & Sunday at 5:00pm

Monday and Sat at 10:00am.

OUI Bill Heads To House

Senator Linda Gray's OUI bill, SB 1080 passed out of the Senate last week and now comes to the House. Critics lament the elimination of the civil penalty of $1,250 for refusing to submit to a blood alcohol concentration test that was a part of the original bill. Watch to see if there will be an attempt in the House to amend the bill to include this provision.

The Way Things Work

Why oh why, would a county official author a press release against a bill I co-sponsored urging others to contact me before talking with me himself?

Weird.

Difficult to understand are the actions of this gentleman, especially since he spends so much time at the Capitol. Why would he not mention his stance on this bill when we stood together last weekend, in silence under the sun? (Special Olympics, LHC)

Strange, the way things work sometimes...

This particular bill has been in the system since January. It is nothing new. It was heard in a House Committee meeting at least two weeks ago (February 7th actually, I just checked) where many representatives from District III testified of its need. (Not one person signed in against this legislation.)

I am not "married" to the bill as they sometimes say at the Capitol, explaining the unhealthy relationship members have with a bill they sponsor. I signed on to this out of respect for my seatmate and the local officials who explained their need for such a law. Since then I have written here about the bill and have also noted it's existence in other forums. Not a peep have I heard in opposition of this bill.

Until now.

Who knows, this bill may be terrible and full of unintended consequences. I am certainly open to killing the bill if it is awful, holding it if it is bad, and amending it, if it is only good, in order to make it better. But that is not my point.

MY POINT:

Mr. Supervisor, why the press release?
Am I that unapproachable?
Forget where my office is?
On the third floof, 309.

Mr. Supervisor, you're the "good one", not the name caller
Not a phone caller?
Thought you were reasonable
What gives?

Hoping to hear from you Mr. Supervisor!

602-926-5408

Arizona Municipal Water User's Association Weekly Update

UPDATE: I look forward to talking with Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson regarding his concerns about this particular piece of legislation.

HB 2132 County Water Authority; Colorado River
AMWUA Position: Support
MCWA Postition: Support

Bill Provisions:

HB 2132 amends ARS § 45-2244 to eliminate the industrial use restriction on a portion of Mohave County Water Authority’s Colorado River allocation.

Background:

In 1994, legislation was adopted to provide for the formation of the Mohave County Water Authority (MCWA).

The members of MCWA are Bullhead City, City of Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Mohave County, Golden Shores Irrigation District, Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District, and the Mohave Water Conservation District.

The impetus to forming MCWA was to put to use the City of Kingman’s Colorado River contract for 18,500 acre-feet of 4th priority water, while at the same time providing Kingman with funds to develop its groundwater resources. A.R.S. § 45-2244 prescribes the uses for which this water may be used. Late in the negotiations, the Department of Interior set aside 3,500 acre-feet of the 18,500 acre feet for other uses, leaving MCWA with 3,500 acre-feet of 5th and 6th priority water, which is a less stable supply than the higher priority, 4th priority water. This 3,500 acre-feet was recently converted back to 4th priority water pursuant to provisions in the Arizona Water Settlements Agreement and would now be available to the MCWA as a permanent supply, however, A.R.S. §45-2244 A.2. limits the 3,500 acre-feet to industrial uses. Industrial uses are defined in A.R.S. §45-2201 (8) as a “nonagricultural use of water not supplied by a city, town or private water company, including animal industry use as defined in § 45-402.”

Since MCWA’s formation in 1996, it has not received a single request for water for an industrial use. During that same time frame, MCWA’s members have sought additional water for municipal purposes, which can include industrial uses.

The MCWA Board voted unanimously to seek this legislation at its meeting held September 25, 2007.

Issues:

This legislation would result in additional water for municipal as well as industrial uses. It would provide the City of Kingman with additional funds to develop its groundwater resources.

Status

HB 2132 was heard in the House Water and Agriculture Committee on Thursday, February 7 and passed unanimously, unamended. Community (LHC and BHC) representatives spoke on behalf of the bill.

HB 2132 was heard in the House Counties, Municipalities and Military Affairs Committee on February 12. Rep.McLain testified in support of the bill and reiterated that the Mohave County Water Authority had never received a request to use the 3,500 acre-foot Colorado River allocation for an industrial purpose. The bill passed unanimously.

HB 2132 was heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee on March 19. LHC representatives testified in support of the bill, as did one of the Mohave County supervisors. Another member of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors testified in opposition to the legislation, expressing concern that the communities’ economies would suffer if water were not available to support industry needs. It was pointed out that the legislation did not limit the use of the water strictly to municipal purposes. The water could be used for municipal and industrial purposes.

SB1449~Minors, Blood Donors

Tomorrow in the House Health Committee, SB 1449, blood donors, will be heard. The American Red Cross supports thh

SB 1449 recently passed the Senate by a vote of 24-1 and seeks to clarify existing statute relating to blood donations and lowers the blood donor age to include 16 and 17 year-old minors with written parental consent.

Background

Nationally and in Arizona, there is a need for additional blood donor collections in order to provide our hospitals with the necessary blood supplies they need to operate efficiently. Today, the majority of American Red Cross Blood Services regions operate with less than one day’s supply of blood.

Due to age, previously eligible donors often become unable to donate and may become blood recipients themselves. Continuing to grow a healthy donor base will greatly assist in meeting the needs of Arizona’s patients. Furthermore, being eligible to donate is an important opportunity to expose young people to the benefits of a lifetime of community service through blood donation. The Red Cross views the requirement of parental consent for minor donors a vital tool in educating parents and their children on the importance of blood donation as an important civic duty.

Collection of blood donations from 16-year olds has proven to be a safe, acceptable practice and 16 states have adopted this as their minimum donation age. Additionally, legislation is being prepared or pending in the states of Kentucky, Georgia, Minnesota, Michigan, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin to enable blood donations from 16-year olds.