ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
REVISED
Purpose
Appropriates, beginning in
FY 2001-2002 and in each fiscal year through 2010-2011, the sum of $2 million
from the public conservation account to the development rights retirement fund
for the purpose of purchasing and retiring development rights.
Background
The purchase of the
development rights to land is intended to prevent retail, dense residential or
commercial development on ranches or farms for the purpose of preserving open
space, which includes related benefits such as habitat preservation and land
use buffers. The farmer sells or leases
these rights, generally to a public agency or nature preservation group, thus
guaranteeing that the land will not be sold for urban development. Under this program, the land remains under
private ownership, thereby giving the owner more of an incentive to give up the
development rights. The purchase of
development rights requires a steady funding source and for that reason, the
programs are usually administered by governmental entities.
The development rights
retirement fund was established in 2000 in the Growing Smarter Plus legislation. Administered by the State Parks Board, the
fund consists of legislative appropriations, gifts and grants. Monies in the fund are to be used for the
purpose of granting monies to applicants to purchase, lease or transfer the
development rights of private land in Arizona.
The Board may grant monies to agencies of the state, political
subdivisions of the state, non-profit organizations or private
individuals. Funding priority is given
to entities that provide matching funds.
Currently, there are no
monies in the development rights retirement fund.
S.B. 1292 appropriates,
beginning in FY 2001-2002 and in each fiscal year through 2010-2011, the sum of
$2 million from the public conservation account to the development rights
retirement fund for the purpose of purchasing and retiring development rights.
Provisions
1. Appropriates, beginning in FY 2001-2002 and in each fiscal year through 2010-2011, the sum of $2 million from the public conservation account to the development rights retirement fund for the purpose of purchasing and retiring development rights.
2. Excludes private individuals from the development rights retirement fund grant program.
3. Makes conforming changes.
4. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the NRAE Committee
1. Reinserts the conservation-based management alternative grant program.
2. Excludes private individuals from the development rights retirement fund grant program.
Amendments Adopted by the Appropriations Committee
Adopted the NRAE Committee amendment.
Senate Action
NRAE 2/15/01 DPA 6-0-2-0
APPROP 2/20/01 DPA 7-5-0-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
February 20, 2001