ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
REVISED
bucket shop;
testimony; technical correction
(NOW: study
committee; seniors; disabled)
Establishes a Joint Legislative Study Committee on Senior Citizen Programs relating to energy and taxation.
This legislation arises from the original content of H.B. 2576, which establishes a tax base exemption for revenues generated by companies that provide utilities and telecommunication services to seniors. This exemption allows income or gross revenues generated from sales to qualifying senior citizens to be deducted from the tax base. A strike everything amendment to this bill was adopted that reduces the current five percent state corporate tax rate to zero by reducing the rate a half percent per year over the next ten years. This bill as amended is currently assigned to the Finance Committee in the Senate.
In the House Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, testimony was offered stating the original content of H.B. 2576 might be problematic because the utility companies do not have the resources to determine eligibility and the inaccuracy of information could be a problem for the Department of Revenue. Therefore a strike everything amendment to H.B. 2028 was adopted to form a study committee on the original provisions of H.B. 2576.
The fiscal impact of H.B. 2028 is minimal, related to reimbursement of travel expenses of members of the study committee.
1. Creates a Joint Legislative Study Committee on Senior Programs consisting of the following members:
a) Three members from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House.
a) Four members of the Senate appointed by the President.
c) Two members that represent nonprofit organizations specializing in senior services appointed by the Speaker of the House.
d) One member who represents a state service program that provides services for senior citizens.
e) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House who represents a county service program.
f) One member who represents a city service program on senior services appointed by the President of the Senate.
g) Three members who represent the telecommunications, electric and gas industries appointed by the President of the Senate.
h) One member who represents the senior citizen community appointed by the Governor.
2. Stipulates that members of the Committee cannot receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursements of work related travel expenses.
3. Requires the Committee to:
a) Assemble a directory of government and private sector programs that provide financial assistance and home efficiency programs to senior citizens for electrical utilities.
b) Examine existing energy programs for seniors, the uses and their accessibility to seniors.
c) Determine duplication of services and recommend statutory changes to eliminate or consolidate duplicate services.
d) Review energy and taxation issues that affect seniors.
e) Makes recommendations for statutory changes to increase the coordinated efforts of seniors energy programs administered by the state, counties, cities and private entities.
f) Submit findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records on or before December 15, 2001.
4. Repeals the act from December 31, 2001 and after.
5. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Commerce Committee
Changes the Committee membership to reflect an even Republican-Democrat split of Senate appointees.
EUT 3/7/01 DPA/SE 8-0-0-2-0 COM 3/28/01 DPA 4-1-1-0
3rd Read 3/19/01 44-9-7-0 FS 3/28/01 DP 3-1-2-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 28, 2001