food stamps; finger imaging
program
HB 2654 requires the Department of Economic Security (DES) to establish a finger imaging pilot program for food stamps at the point of sale.
HB 2654 passed the Appropriations Committee with the strike everything amendment.
HB 2654 passed the Committee of the Whole with the strike everything amendment, and was further amended to continue existing funding for the Cactus League, community youth and amateur sports facilities and the tourism revenue clearing account.
The
TSA is responsible for constructing, financing, maintaining, operating and
promoting a multipurpose facility, major league baseball spring training
facilities and community youth and amateur sports facilities (Laws 2000,
Chapter 372). Funding sources include monies that are generated by a tax
increase on hotels (1%) and car rental surcharge (3.25%) approved by Maricopa
county voters at the November 7, 2000 election. In addition to recaptured transaction privilege tax revenues
generated at the multipurpose facility and income taxes generated by the
Arizona Cardinals football franchise, its players and employees. The Arizona
Cardinals football franchise is required to contribute $85 million towards the
facility, but the franchise also retains the naming rights for the facility.
Additionally, the TSA has the power to issue bonds and pledge revenues to
secure those bonds. The Authority was required to be established in a county
that has a population of more than two million persons, which limited the
potential sites to within Maricopa County. Current statute requires a county or
city to provide the land, infrastructure and parking facilities associated with
this multipurpose facility.
At
the time of enactment, The Governor’s Office and other proponents of this measure
estimated the new taxes and revenues generated at the new facility would total
approximately $1.93 billion over 30 years. Additionally, the proponents
estimated total expenditures for the facility to total approximately $1.57
billion over the same time period, resulting in surplus of about $359 million.
However, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) cautioned that if the
new tax revenues were not as strong as predicted, the authority would not be
able to meet all of its projected expenditures. This would result in lower
priority programs such as the youth and amateur sports facility fund from
receiving the projected funds.
·
Provides
an emergency measure for a moratorium on TSA activities, including entering
into a contract, selecting a stadium site and incurring debt.
·
Creates
a ballot measure, asking voters in the authority whether to continue the TSA in
the September 2002 election.
·
Establishes
two intergovernmental agreements between the Authority and the County: to place
the ballot measure in the next election and to prepare, print and distribute a
publicity pamphlet on the measure.
·
Requires
the publicity pamphlet to contain the following:
·
An
analysis of the TSA’s activities to date in providing a multipurpose facility
and funding for major league baseball spring training, amateur and youth sports
facilities and tourism promotion.
·
TSA
expenditures, obligations incurred and outstanding debt
·
A
statement of all monies, both public and private, to be spent on the
multipurpose facility
·
The
form, title, and summary of the measure to be put on the ballot
·
Arguments
for and against the measure
·
Requires
the ballot to contain the following:
·
The
official title and number of the measure
·
A
descriptive title that summarizes the measure not to exceed 50 words
·
Question
to the voters: Do you favor continuation
of the current funding and activities of the Tourism and Sports Authority?
·
States
that this ballot measure is does not constitute a submission to the voters
under the power of referendum.
·
Continues
funding for both Major League Baseball Spring training facilities and community
youth and amateur sports facilities in the authority. All monies will be
distributed by the State Treasurer from the state general fund.
·
If
the voters chose to discontinue the TSA, the Governor shall appoint a receiver
to complete the orderly termination of the TSA. The receivers duties include the following:
3 Keep and maintain a complete
and accurate record of all proceedings
3 Provide for the maintenance
and disposition of properties and interests owned or controlled by the TSA
3 Determine whether the car
rental surcharge and the hotel tax remain necessary to pay the remaining
obligations of the TSA. If the
surcharges are no longer necessary, the receiver shall notify the Department of
Revenue (DOR) to end their collection.
3 Request an audit on each of
the TSA funds and accounts by a certified public accountant by October 1,
2002. A copy of this audit must be
filed with the Auditor General.
3 Issue a final report, transmitting copies to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Legislative Council, the Secretary of State, and the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
· Upon issuance of the final report by the receiver, the TSA is terminated for all purposes, and is repealed in statute.
· Contains an Emergency Clause
· Makes technical and conforming changes