Assigned to COM                                                                              FOR CAUCUS & FLOOR ACTION

 

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2521

 

Arizona-Mexico commission; data; cooperation

 

Purpose

 

Requires the Directors of specific state agencies, within the scope of the departments’ duties, to cooperate with the Arizona-Mexico commission on projects that will enhance the economic competitiveness of the Arizona-Mexico region.

 

Background

 

Established in 1959, the Arizona-Mexico Commission (Commission) is a membership based non-profit corporation that is comprised of 10 working committees who formulate programs and suggest solutions on issues that impact the Arizona-Mexico relationship.

 

The Commission works with public and private sector leaders from both countries to initiate and implement binational projects to improve the quality of life for the residents of the Arizona-Mexico border region.  Specifically, the Commission strives to promote goodwill, understanding, and the overall development of the Arizona-Sonora region by utilizing cultural, economic, human, natural and technical resources.  The Commission indicates that specific state agencies play an important role in facilitating the implementation of projects developed by the Commission.  Currently, the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Economic Security, Environmental Quality, Heath Services and Transportation collaborate with the Commission.

 

          With the development of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the expanding global economy, the Commission seeks to add other state agencies to those now statutorily required to cooperate with the Commission in order to incorporate more agencies into future ventures. 

 

          H.B. 2521 broadens collaboration with the Commission to include other state agencies and

expands the jurisdiction of the Commission from the state of Sonora, Mexico to “the Arizona-Mexico region.”

 

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this measure.

 

 

 

 

 

Provisions

 

1.      Expands the area which is encompassed in the Commission’s jurisdiction from the state of Sonora, Mexico to “the Arizona-Mexico region.”

 

2.      Requires the following state agencies to cooperate with the Arizona–Mexico Commission on projects and data collection pertaining to issues that impact the economic competitiveness of this state and the Arizona-Mexico region:

 

·        The Department of Corrections

·        The Department of Public Safety

·        The Game and Fish Department

·        The Arizona Office of Tourism

·        The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

·        Department of Education

 

3.      Requires state agencies currently cooperating with the Arizona-Mexico Commission and the additional agencies, to conduct projects in the United States and Mexico and to work with the Commission to enhance, as well as assess, the economic competitiveness of this state and the “Arizona-Mexico region.”

 

4.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted by the Commerce Committee

 

1.      Adds the Department of Education to the list of those agencies that already cooperate with the Commission.

 

2.      Requires the Department of Economic Security to conduct projects in the United States and Mexico and to work with the Commission to enhance, as well as assess, the economic competitiveness of this state and the "Arizona-Mexico region."

 

House Action                                                               Senate Action

 

PIRA      2/13/01     DP     10-0-0-0                           COM     3/28/01     DPA    6-0-0-0

CED       2/19/01    DP        7-0-0-3

3rd Read 3/12/01                52-0-8-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 26, 2001