Assigned to TRANS                                                                                                           FOR COMMITTEE

 

 


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1218

 

Grand Canyon airport; lease

 

Purpose

 

An emergency measure, exempts the nonprofit corporation that leases the Grand Canyon National Park Airport from administrative regulations. 

 

Background

 

Legislation adopted in 1999 created the Grand Canyon Airport Authority and appropriated $1 million for operation and expenses from the aviation fund to the Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCNPA) (Laws 1999, Chapter 213).  The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) received legal opinions that the airport authority is considered to be a semiautonomous state entity, instead of an independent municipal corporation.  In 2000, the Legislature repealed the Grand Canyon Airport Authority and required ADOT to lease the GCNPA to a nonprofit corporation.

 

ADOT has received an additional opinion from the Attorney General recommending further legislative action to clarify that the nonprofit corporation leasing the airport is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act, procurement, personnel and construction regulations.

 

There is no estimated fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this legislation.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Exempts the nonprofit corporation that leases the GCNPA from bid requirements, mechanics and materialmen’s liens, the personnel system, rule making procedures and the procurement code.

 

2.      Removes the deadline of March 1, 2001 for ADOT to lease the airport.

 

3.      Eliminates the 20-year lease limit for the GCNPA.

 

4.      Contains an emergency clause.

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

January 29, 2001