ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
appropriation;
flood control
Appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund in FYs 2001-2002 through 2003-2004 to the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs for flood relief.
The estimated total storm damage, resulting from the January 1993 tropical winter storm that impacted 13 of Arizona’s counties, was $146,000,000. Pursuant to the federal Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the federal, state and local shares for damage assistance are 75 percent, 15 percent and ten percent respectively.
In 1994, the Legislature approved H.B. 2192 (Laws 1994, Chapter 224), which declared the Legislature’s intent to pay the ten percent local share along with the 15 percent state share. Therefore, the state’s total share, 25 percent, was estimated to equal $36,500,000. According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, monies equaling this amount were allocated to the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) for the 1993 flood relief effort from FY 1992-1993 through FY 1998-1999.
As part of this allocation, Laws 1996, Chapter 7, Fifth Special Session, appropriated approximately $5,000,000 for FY 1996-1997 from the state general fund and $574,000 from the state highway fund to DEMA for the 1993 flood relief local share. Although the appropriations were exempt from lapsing, the authorizing legislation specified that for FY 1995-1996 and FY 1996-1997 all monies remaining unexpended and unencumbered on June 30, 1998 were to revert to the general fund. According to DEMA, with the exception of $80,000 that has been expended, all FY 1996-1997 appropriations reverted on June 30, 1998.
S.B. 1012 appropriates $500,000 from the general fund for the next three fiscal years to DEMA for flood relief for the 13 Arizona counties eligible for federal disaster assistance.
1. Appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund in FYs 2001-2002 through 2003-2004 to DEMA to fund the ten percent local share match requirement for political subdivisions’ costs of reconstruction and repair projects in counties eligible for public assistance flood relief from the tropical winter storm of 1993.
2. Requires the appropriation to be used to implement the elements of the 1993 federal and state agreement declaring 13 Arizona counties eligible for federal disaster assistance.
3. Stipulates that the payment of the ten percent local share is subject to final audit by DEMA. Reimbursement of the applicant’s share shall be offset by any revenue realized through the administration of the federal share payments.
4. Requires DEMA to distribute monies in a manner that reduces the number of claimants.
5. Exempts appropriation from lapsing, with the exception of monies remaining unexpended and unencumbered on June 30, 2005 which revert to the state general fund.
6. Contains legislative intent.
7. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 24, 2002