environmental education
council; continuation
HB 2061 extends the Arizona Advisory Council on Environmental Education (Council) until July 1, 2012, and allows private schools and nonprofit home school organizations to qualify and apply for grants from the Council .
In December 2001, a Committee of Reference sunset review took place on the Council. Consisting of 10 members, the Council was established to facilitate the coordination and planning with public and private agencies and educational institutions for the purpose of creating, improving and enhancing environmental education programs. The Council awards grants not exceeding $10,000 for environmental education projects to individual public, charter and alternative schools, natural resource conservation district environmental education centers and private organizations that have established joint research ventures with schools to provide instruction in environmental education. In addition, up to four grants may be awarded annually of up to $30,000 for the use of environmental education sites for environmental education programs for students or capital improvements to an environmental education site directly related to enhancing the site’s ability to support environmental education programs for students, or both. Projects that receive grants are required to report to the Council.
The Council receives monies from the Environmental Special Plates Fund (Fund) generated from environmental special plate sales. Of the $25 fee for the plates, $17 is deposited into the Fund for use by the Council for environmental education grants. Subject to legislative appropriation, the State Land Department is required to distribute $5,000 annually from the Fund to each natural resource conservation district with an established education center for the purpose of developing and implementing an environmental education program.