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 Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler (District 5) came to the capitol on Monday to testify on HCM 2008 (economically depressed area; Navajo Nation). Sponsored by Representative Christopher Deschene (D-2) (pictured, with Supervisor Fowler), the memorial requests that the U.S. Congress provide additional funding and support to areas of the Navajo Nation affected by the Bennett Freeze.
Imposed by Commissioner of Indian Affairs Robert Bennett in 1966, the Freeze prohibited construction or improvements on lands involved in a dispute between Hopi and Navajo tribes. Since the Freeze was lifted in 2006, construction and development in the affected areas has been slow to recover. Representative Deschene told the the House Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee that lands affected by the freeze "have Third World equivalent conditions. These areas continue to lack basic necessities: water, electricity, roads and landfills... The federal government has an obligation to remedy the harsh impacts of the Bennett Freeze."
Supervisor Fowler joined leaders from the Navajo Nation who testified on different aspects of the Bennett Freeze. Ms. Fowler showed the committee a series of photographs she took in the Bennett Freeze area, telling the committee, "the history of this area is very complex, but the story of the people is simple--there are great needs." Supervisor Fowler showed photos of homes in desperate need of repair, that still showed damage from fires years in the past, and homes where families with seven children lived in cramped quarters, some without power or water. Ms. Fowler said that conditions and a lack of economic opportunity in the Freeze area has created "a sense of hopelessness in our youth."
A legislative memorial expresses the views of the Arizona legislature in a communication to the states' congressional delegation. HCM 2008 passed the committee unanimously, and if it is approved by the full legislature, it will be transmitted to Congress.
To view archived video of the committee hearing, click here.
 Legislators had plenty of questions for the Joint Legislative Budget Committee during a presentation on Thursday which detailed the effect of the federal stimulus legislation on Arizona. The stimulus package, signed by President Obama earlier this week, included tax cuts, increased entitlement benefits, and other federal appropriations. Republican members of the Appropriations committee, many of whom were critical of the stimulus package, raised concerns about the numerous restrictions and requirements on states in the federal bill. Richard Stavneak, Chairman of the JLBC, told the committee that details about the complex package continued to emerge and estimates could change depending on the prerogative of federal agencies. Arizona will receive two types of direct aid--an increase in federal Medicaid sharing, and fiscal stabilization funding. The state will also be eligible for federal funding for a number of specified purposes from transportation to education and social programs.
Stavneak explained that many of the federal funds will come with strings attached: the state has to meet certain fiscal conditions to receive the money. For example, the portion of federal Medicaid sharing (FMAP) will increase from 66 percent to 75 percent--but the state cannot lower AHCCCS qualification requirements or increase the amount counties contribute to the program. FMAP money is also tied to unemployment: the state will get additional funding if the unemployment rate tops 7.1 percent (Arizona's current rate is 6.9 percent).
The presentation also covered fiscal stabilization funds, part of which could be used to fill Arizona's FY09 or FY10 budget deficits. Depending on declining revenues, the Legislature may have to fix the FY09 budget a third time before the end of the fiscal year in June, and the FY10 shortfall is projected to be over $3 billion.
The presentation also covered additional federal funds, including money for highways and bridges, drinking water, elderly nutrition, food stamps and unemployment, energy efficiency and a host of other programs. Much of the federal funding will be distributed through the Governor's Office, in conjunction with state and federal executive agencies.
 The Arizona State Parks Board released a report this week that analyzes the direct and indirect economic impacts of Arizona state parks.
The report, prepared by the W. A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University, concludes that the total impact of Arizona state parks is over $200 billion, and that the parks provide over 2,800 jobs statewide.
At an Arizona State Parks Board meeting scheduled for Friday, February 20, the Board is expected to approve a plan to deal with the cuts handed down by the Arizona State Legislature during the recent FY09 budget fix. The Board has proposed closing a number of parks with relatively low visitation rates.
To read the report, click here.
 Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano identified "boots on the ground" and more technology to police the border, along with interior enforcement of immigration law, as major parts of her plan to change immigration policy under the new administration. Secretary Napolitano outlined her priorities to National Public Radio in an interview on Monday. Napolitano emphasized her commitment to making sure "the rule of law is fairly and forcefully applied across the border." She said that the Department of Homeland Security's policy of enforcement against "employers creating a demand for illegal workers" would continue in some form.
When asked what she planned to do about illegal immigrants already in the country, Napolitano replied, "that's for Congress to decide," but did say the Department would try to streamline the process for admitting immigrants legally authorized to be in the country.
To read or listen to the full interview with Secretary Napolitano, click here.
HB 2015 county retiree health insurance (Konopnicki) passed 8-0 out of House Public Employees, Retirees, and Entitlement Reform.
HB 2024 law enforcement officers; duty fitness examinations (Kavanagh) was held in House Military Affairs and Public Safety.
HB 2060 law enforcement officers; hearings; evidence (Konopnicki) was held in House Public Employees, Retirees, and Entitlement Reform.
HB 2061 CORP; probation officers; customary employment (Konopnicki) was held in House Public Employees, Retirees, and Entitlement Reform.
HB 2177 national park support districts (Konopnicki) passed 7-0 out of House Natural Resources and Rural Affairs.
HB 2268 county and municipal budgets (Crump) passed 9-0 out of House Government.
HB 2335 improvement districts; renewable energy (Mason) passed 6-2 out of House Environment.
HB 2401 administrative rules oversight committee (Williams) passed 8-0 out of House Government.
HB 2424 illegal dumping; penalties (McGuire) passed 8-0 out of House Environment.
HB 2431 vicious animals, assault (Montenegro) passed 8-0 out of House Judiciary.
HB 2487 county tourism tax; tourism distribution (Antenori) passed 5-1 out of House Ways and Means.
HB 2583 excess property tax payments; repayment (Konopnicki) was held in House Ways and Means.
HCM 2006 state land; natural resources (Jones) passed 4-3 out of House Natural Resources and Rural Affairs.
HCM 2008 economically depressed area; Navajo Nation (Deschene) passed 7-0 out of House Natural Resources and Rural Affairs.
The legislature will consider the following proposals with county impact next week. Click here to watch the committee hearings live, or click here to view archived video of committees. (Agendas are subject to change; visit the legislative calendar for updates on daily calendars.).
Links to strike-everything amendments are posted as they become available.
HB 2073 state equalization property tax repeal (Biggs) and
HB 2368 property taxes, valuation and equalization dates (Murphy)
HB 2524 drug and alcohol treatment district (Chabin) will be heard in House Ways on Means on Monday, February 23, at 2:00 p.m. in House Room 1.
HB 2011 provisional community college districts; bonding (Konopnicki) will be heard in House Education on Monday, February 23, at 2:00 p.m. in House Room 3.
HB 2278 technical correction; state trust lands (Jones)
(Strike Everything: tires; abandoned mines) will be heard in House Natural Resources and Rural Affairs on Monday, February 23, at 2:00 p.m. in House Room 4.
HB 2425 state treasurer; management fees (Kavanagh) will be heard in House Banking and Insurance on Monday, February 23, at 2:00 p.m. in House Room 5.
HB 2190 nuisance abatement; entry on premises (Barnes) will be heard in House Environment on Tuesday, February 24, at 2:00 p.m. in House Room 5.
HB 2061 CORP; probation officers; customary employment (Konopnicki) will be heard in House Public Employees, Retirees, and Entitlement Reform on Tuesday, February 24, at 2:00 p.m. in House Room 3.
HB 2253 publication of notices, websites (Jones) and
HB 2458 dogs; cats; release from pound (Court) and
HB 2509 intergovernmental agreements; separate legal entities (Pratt) will be head in House Government on Tuesday, February 24, at 2:00 p.m. in House Room 4.
HB 2460 mental health services; court costs (Goodale) will be heard in House Health and Human Services on Wednesday, February 25, at 9:00 a.m. in House Room 4.
HB 2024 law enforcement; duty fitness examination (Kavanagh) will be heard in House Military Affairs and Public Safety on Wednesday, February 25, at 9:00 a.m. in House Room 3.
HB 2080 contractors; payment (Reagan) will be heard in House Commerce on Wednesday, February 25, at 9:00 a.m. in House Room 5.
HB 2425 state treasurer; management fees (Kavanagh) will be heard in House Appropriations at 2:00 p.m. in House Room 1.
HB 2167 transportation district working group (Biggs) and
HB 2396 ADOT; transportation facility pilot projects (Biggs)
(Strike Everything: transportation; public private partnerships) will be heard in House Transportation and Infrastructure on Thursday, February 26, at 9:00 a.m. in House Room 3.
HB 2130 campaign finance reports; delinquency; penalty (J.P. Weiers) and
HB 2190 nuisance abatement; entry on premises (Barnes) and
HB 2424 illegal dumping; penalties (McGuire) will be heard in House Judiciary on Thursday, February 26, at 9:00 a.m. in House Room 4.
HB 2329 solar energy; permit fees (Boone) and
HB 2336 community facilities districts; renewable energy (Mason) and
HB 2337 energy standards; buildings; contracting (Mason) and
HB 2373 taxation; biogas facilities (Murphy) will be heard in House Water and Energy on Thursday, February 26, at 9:00 a.m. in House Room 5.
Visit the CSA Calendar of Events at www.countysupervisors.org/calendar.
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County Supervisors Association of Arizona
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