AzLA Bill Summaries February 29

Arizona Library Association
48th Legislature - 2nd Regular Session, 2008 Friday, February 15, 2008


AzLA: Posted Calendars and Committee Hearings

H2586: SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS
Calendar: 3/3 House COW

AzLA: Bill Summaries

H2098: CORPORATE TAX CREDIT; TUITION ORGANIZATIONS
Makes permanent the tax credit available for voluntary cash contribution to a school tuition organization. Otherwise scheduled to repeal on June 30, 2011.

First sponsor: Rep. Yarbrough
Others: Rep. Anderson, Rep. Barto, Rep. Biggs, Rep. Burges, Rep. Clark, Rep. Crump, Rep. Groe, Rep. Kavanagh, Rep. McLain, Rep. Murphy, Sen. Gorman

H2098 Daily History Date Action:
CORPORATE TAX CREDIT; TUITION ORGANIZATIONS 1/17 from House ways-means do pass.
CORPORATE TAX CREDIT; TUITION ORGANIZATIONS 1/14 referred to House ways means.


H2099: PREMIUM TAX CREDIT; STO CONTRIBUTION
Allows insurance companies to contribute to school tuition organizations and receive a tax credit against their premium tax liability.

First sponsor: Rep. Yarbrough
Others: Rep. Anderson, Rep. Barto, Rep. Biggs, Rep. Burges, Rep. Clark, Rep. Crump, Rep. Groe, Rep. Kavanagh, Rep. McLain, Rep. Murphy, Sen. Gorman

H2099 Daily History Date Action:
PREMIUM TAX CREDIT; STO CONTRIBUTION 2/7 House COW approved with amend #4018.
PREMIUM TAX CREDIT; STO CONTRIBUTION 2/5 from House rules okay.
PREMIUM TAX CREDIT; STO CONTRIBUTION 1/29 from House ways-means with amend #4018.
PREMIUM TAX CREDIT; STO CONTRIBUTION 1/28 House ways-means amended; report awaited.
PREMIUM TAX CREDIT; STO CONTRIBUTION 1/17 House ways-means held.
PREMIUM TAX CREDIT; STO CONTRIBUTION 1/14 referred to House ways-means.

H2100: TAX CREDITS; WITHHOLDING TAX REDUCTION
An employee may request that his/her employer reduce the amount of the employee's withholding tax by the amount of credit the employee will qualify for for contributions to a qualified school tuition organization or public school. Expands the list of confidential taxpayer information to include information supplied by an employee to an employer regarding the employee's election tohave his/her withholding tax reduced for the purposes of contributions to qualified school tuition organizations or public schools. Effective January 1, 2009.

First sponsor: Rep. Yarbrough
Others: Rep. Anderson, Rep. Barto, Rep. Biggs, Rep. Burges, Rep. Clark, Rep. Crump, Rep. Groe, Rep. Kavanagh, Rep. Murphy

H2100 Daily History Date Action:
TAX CREDITS; WITHHOLDING TAX REDUCTION 2/5 from House ways-means with amend #4042.
TAX CREDITS; WITHHOLDING TAX REDUCTION 2/4 House ways-means amended; report awaited.
TAX CREDITS; WITHHOLDING TAX REDUCTION 1/14 referred to House ways-means.


H2162: TECH CORRECTION; LIBRARY; ARCHIVES
Minor change in statutes dealing with the Department of Library, Archives and Public Records. Apparent striker bus.

First sponsor: Rep. Adams

H2162 Daily History Date Action:
TECH CORRECTION; LIBRARY; ARCHIVES 1/15 referred to House rules only.


H2586: SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS
Aggregate maximums for the secondary property tax levy of certain special district (including, fire district, flood control district and jail district) are established for tax year 2008 and each year thereafter, using a formula based on the previous year’s levy amount. Districts may ask the voters to authorize a secondary property tax levy that exceeds the aggregate maximum, subject to specified limitations. The Property Tax Oversight Commission is required to review the secondary property tax levy of certain special taxing districts to determine violations of levy limits. Districts may appeal the Commission’s finding.

First sponsor: Rep. Yarbrough
Others: Rep. Murphy

H2586 Daily History Date Action:
SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS 2/28 retained on House COW calendar.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS 2/21 retained on House COW calendar.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS 2/19 from House rules okay.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS 2/4 from House ways-means with amend #4046.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS 1/29 referred to House ways-means.


H2779: HIGHER EDUCATION; INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS; ACCESSIBILITY
Publishers of textbooks and other educational materials in use in the state must, on request, provide versions in accessible formats. Refusal by a publisher may result in student pursuing a private right of action.

First sponsor: Rep. Ableser
Others: Rep. Alvarez, Rep. Bradley, Rep. Brown, Rep. Cajero Bedford, Rep. Chad Campbell, Rep. Chabin, Rep. Desimone, Rep. Farley, Rep. Gallardo, Rep. Garcia, Rep. Lopes, Rep. Lopez, Rep. Lujan, Rep. McGuire, Rep. Meza, Rep. Miranda, Rep. Pancrazi, Rep. Prezelski, Rep. Rios, Rep. Schapira, Rep. Sinema, Rep. Thrasher, Rep. Young Wright

H2779 Daily History Date Action:
HIGHER EDUCATION; INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS; ACCESSIBILITY 2/11 referred to
House higher ed, com, gov.


H2857: FY 07-08 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
Required reductions (totaling $230.8 million) in appropriations to 53 state agencies in fiscal
07-08, including $47 million from the School Facilities Board, $37.4 million from the Dept of
Education, $30.3 million from the Dept of Economic Security, $25 million (aggregate) from all 3 state universities, and $22.3 million from the Dept of Corrections. Smallest adjustment is $2,000 from the Law Enforcement Merit System Council. The following programs are protected from budget cuts: Child Protective Service, DES services to developmentally disabled, Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM), and abstinence funding. Various fund transfers, including $615 from the Budget Stabilization Fund and authorization for Clean Elections to transfer $20 million to the general fund. Various unexpended and unencumbered balances in funds are swept into the general fund. Also includes supplemental appropriations: $19 million to the Dept of Health Services and $13 million to AHCCCS. Appropriations for various capital projects in the original budget for fiscal 07-08 are reduced or delayed until fiscal 08-09.

First sponsor: Rep. Boone

H2857 Daily History Date Action:
FY 07-08 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS 2/20 from House appro with amend #4234.
FY 07-08 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS 2/20 House appro amended; report awaited.
FY 07-08 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS 2/18 referred to House appro.



HCR2003: PROPERTY TAX; LIMIT VALUATION INCREASES
The 2008 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the constitution to limit the annual increase in real property values for tax purposes to 3%.

First sponsor: Rep. McClure

HCR2003 Daily History Date Action:
PROPERTY TAX; LIMIT VALUATION INCREASES 1/14 referred to House ways-means.


HCR2038: STATE APPROPRIATION LIMIT; REDUCTION
The 2008 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to reduce the total amount of state appropriations to 6.4% of the state's total personal income. Previously, the appropriation limit was 7%. No adjustment shall be made to the appropriations limit in order to account for a transfer of government functions. Effective for fiscal years beginning on and after July 1, 2009.

First sponsor: Rep. Pearce
Others: Rep. Anderson, Rep. Barnes, Rep. Biggs, Rep. Burges, Rep. Crump, Rep. Farnsworth, Rep. Groe, Rep. Kavanagh, Rep. Murphy, Rep. Stump, Rep. Jim Weiers, Rep. Yarbrough, Sen. Burns, Sen. Gould, Sen. Harper, Sen. Johnson, Sen. Verschoor

HCR2038 Daily History Date Action:
STATE APPROPRIATION LIMIT; REDUCTION 2/13 from House appro do pass.
STATE APPROPRIATION LIMIT; REDUCTION 2/6 referred to House appro.


HCR2040: SPENDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT
The 2008 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state
Constitution to require the state's annual budget to be balanced, that annual expenditures not exceed annual revenues, that there must a year-end cash balance of at least 1% of the general fund balance, and that state obligations do not exceed ongoing or permanent state revenue.
Beginning on January 1, 2010, the state treasurer and each county treasurer must establish a website containing a searchable database of revenues and expenditures.

First sponsor: Rep. Pearce
Others: Rep. Anderson, Rep. Barnes, Rep. Biggs, Rep. Boone, Rep. Burges, Rep. Crump, Rep. Driggs, Rep. Farnsworth, Rep. Groe, Rep. Kavanagh, Rep. McComish, Rep. Miranda, Rep. Murphy, Rep. Robson, Rep. Stump, Rep. Jim Weiers, Rep. Yarbrough, Sen. Burns, Sen. Harper, Sen. Johnson, Sen. Verschoor

HCR2040 Daily History Date Action:
SPENDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT 2/20 from House appro with amend #4239.
SPENDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT 2/13 House appro held.
SPENDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT 2/6 referred to House appro.
S1002: PROPERTY TAX; EQUALIZATION TAX REPEAL
Makes permanent the 3 year suspension of the state equalization property tax. [Capitol Reports note: the suspension is due to expire in 2009. This tax is also called the county equalization assistance for education property tax].

First sponsor: Sen. Waring
Others: Rep. Barnes, Rep. Barto, Rep. Biggs, Rep. Boone, Rep. Burges, Rep. McComish, Rep. Murphy, Rep. Nelson, Rep. Pearce, Rep. Robson, Rep. Jerry Weiers, Sen. Bee, Sen. Blendu, Sen. Burns, Sen. Linda Gray, Sen. Harper

S1002 Daily History Date Action:
PROPERTY TAX; EQUALIZATION TAX REPEAL 1/31 Senate COW approved with amend #4005.
PROPERTY TAX; EQUALIZATION TAX REPEAL 1/29 from Senate rules okay.
PROPERTY TAX; EQUALIZATION TAX REPEAL 1/17 from Senate fin with amend #4005.
PROPERTY TAX; EQUALIZATION TAX REPEAL 1/16 Senate fin amended; report awaited.
PROPERTY TAX; EQUALIZATION TAX REPEAL 1/14 referred to Senate fin.


S1256: SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS
Limits the annual increase in the maximum secondary tax levy permissible to certain special districts (including, fire district, county TV district, flood control district, jail district, etc). The list of duties of the Property Tax Oversight Commission is expanded to include reviewing the secondary property tax levies of these special districts to ensure compliance.

First sponsor: Sen. Burns
Others: Sen. Gorman, Sen. Harper

S1256 Daily History Date Action:
SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS 2/12 from Senate rules okay.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS 2/7 from Senate fin with amend #4072.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS; SECONDARY LEVY LIMITS 1/31 referred to Senate fin.


S1337: CENTENNIAL FUNDING; CAPITOL RENOVATION
Reallocates the $2.5 million appropriated in fiscal 2006-2007 to legislative council as follows: 1) $2,050,000 to the Historical Advisory Commission; and 2) $450,000 to legislative council. Emergency clause.

First sponsor: Sen. Flake
Others: Rep. Ableser, Rep. Adams, Rep. Anderson, Rep. Barnes, Rep. Barto, Rep. Bradley, Rep. Brown, Rep. Burns, Rep. Cajero Bedford, Rep. Chad Campbell, Rep. Cloves Campbell Jr., Rep. Clark, Rep. Crandall, Rep. Crump, Rep. Desimone, Rep. Driggs, Rep. Farley, Rep. Gallardo, Rep. Hershberger, Rep. Kavanagh, Rep. Konopnicki, Rep. Lopes, Rep. Lopez, Rep. Lujan,
Rep. Mason, Rep. McClure, Rep. McComish, Rep. McLain, Rep. Murphy, Rep. Nelson, Rep. Pearce, Rep. Prezelski, Rep. Rios,
Rep. Robson, Rep. Schapira, Rep. Sinema, Rep. Stump, Rep. Tobin, Rep. Tom, Rep. Jim Weiers, Sen. Aboud, Sen. Aguirre, Sen. Allen, Sen. Arzberger, Sen. Bee, Sen. Blendu, Sen. Burton Cahill, Sen. Linda Gray, Sen. Hale, Sen. Harper, Sen. Huppenthal, Sen. Johnson, Sen. Landrum Taylor, Sen. Leff, Sen. McCune Davis, Sen. Miranda, Sen. Pesquiera, Sen. Rios, Sen. Soltero, Sen. Verschoor

S1337 Daily History Date Action:
CENTENNIAL FUNDING; CAPITOL RENOVATION 2/27 from Senate appro do pass.
CENTENNIAL FUNDING; CAPITOL RENOVATION 2/26 Senate appro do pass; report
awaited.
CENTENNIAL FUNDING; CAPITOL RENOVATION 2/4 referred to Senate appro.


S1398: PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS; WRITTEN AGREEMENTS
Establishes regulations for partnerships between any state department or agency or any political subdivision of this state and a private entity.

First sponsor: Sen. Johnson
Others: Sen. Aboud, Sen. Blendu, Sen. Gould, Sen. Chuck Gray, Sen. Verschoor

S1398 Daily History Date Action:
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS; WRITTEN AGREEMENTS 2/19 from Senate gov do pass.
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS; WRITTEN AGREEMENTS 2/6 referred to Senate gov.


S1409: INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX; REPEAL
Beginning tax year 2009, the Arizona individual income tax is repealed. Session law directs Legislative Council to prepare conforming legislation.

First sponsor: Sen. Verschoor

S1409 Daily History Date Action:
INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX; REPEAL 2/6 referred to Senate fin.


S1475: PROPERTY TAX RELIEF & PROTECTION
Various changes in statutes pertaining to property taxation, including elimination of all statutory references to the transportation revenue control limit, restricting the expenses that a district may claim as desegregation costs, no district may claim deseg expenses greater than the amount claimed in fiscal 07-08, taxes levied for budget overrides in any year may not exceed the levy in the first year of the override without securing voter approval; elimination of the county equalization assistance for education tax, the secondary tax levy of selected special districts may not increase more than 2% and the Property Tax Oversight Commission must review the levies to insure compliance. More.

First sponsor: Sen. Verschoor
Others: Rep. Pearce, Sen. Burns, Sen. Gould, Sen. Huppenthal

S1475 Daily History Date Action:
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF & PROTECTION 2/11 referred to Senate fin.


SCR1018: PROPERTY TAX; VALUATION; INFLATION LIMITATION
The 2008 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to require that the annual change in property values for property tax purposes be equal to the change in the GDP price deflator from the previous year.

First sponsor: Sen. Huppenthal

SCR1018 Daily History Date Action
PROPERTY TAX; VALUATION; INFLATION LIMITATION 1/31 referred to Senate fin.


SCR1022: INCOME TAX PHASE-OUT; FAIR TAX
The 2008 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state
Constitution to phase out the state income tax (both individual and corporate) so that by Jan 1,
2013, no governmental entity shall assess or collect a tax based on income. The Legislature is authorized to increase sales and use taxes to compensate for the loss in revenue and such measures are exempt from Prop 108 that would otherwise require a 2/3 majority in each house for passage.

First sponsor: Sen. Chuck Gray
Others: Sen. Burns, Sen. Gould, Sen. Harper, Sen. Johnson, Sen. Verschoor

SCR1022 Daily History Date Action:
INCOME TAX PHASE-OUT; FAIR TAX 2/4 referred to Senate fin.


SCR1024: PROPERTY TAX LEVY ROLLBACK
The 2008 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state
Constitution to require all taxing jurisdictions to set their 2009 levy no higher than the actual levy in 2005 and that beginning in 2010, they must limit the annual increase in tax levies to 2% plus the value of new construction. Levies exceeding the 2% limit may be enacted only by a 2/3 vote of the qualified electors. A petition to reduce a jurisdiction's levy limit by up to 20% that is signed by 10% of the electors in the district will require an election to be held at the next general election. Severability clause.

First sponsor: Sen. Gould
Others: Rep. Groe, Rep. Pearce, Sen. Chuck Gray, Sen. Harper, Sen. Verschoor

SCR1024 Daily History Date Action:
PROPERTY TAX LEVY ROLLBACK 2/4 referred to Senate fin.


SCR1025: PROPERTY TAX; VALUATION INCREASE LIMIT
The 2008 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to limit the annual increase in property values (for property tax purposes) to 2%.

First sponsor: Sen. Gould
Others: Rep. Groe, Sen. Harper

SCR1025 Daily History Date Action:
PROPERTY TAX; VALUATION INCREASE LIMIT 2/4 referred to Senate fin.


SCR1029: CORPORATE INCOME TAX; REPEAL
The 2008 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to repeal statutes relating to the corporate income tax. Legislative Council is directed to prepare conforming legislation for consideration next year.

First sponsor: Sen. Verschoor

SCR1029 Daily History Date Action:
CORPORATE INCOME TAX; REPEAL 2/12 referred to Senate fin.