HB2089

THE CONTEXT: Currently, a groundwater basin that was not included within an initial AMA may be designated an AMA on petition by 10 percent of the registered voters who reside in the boundaries of the proposed AMA. The Director of Arizona Water Resources (Director) along with the clerk of the board of supervisors or county election officer will transmit a map of the groundwater basin to the county recorder of each county in the proposed AMA is located.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would permits 10 percent of the registered voters within the boundaries of a subsequent AMA to file a petition to remove the subsequent AMA designation, allow registered voters an opportunity to remove the subsequent AMA designation after 10 years of designation as a subsequent AMA, and require the petition be filed within 180 days before the next general election.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make election administration and accountability rules for subsequent ama more definite. It would permits 10 percent of the registered voters within the boundaries of a subsequent AMA to file a petition to remove the subsequent AMA designation, and would also allow registered voters an opportunity to remove the subsequent AMA designation after 10 years of designation as a subsequent AMA, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.