AZ HB2465

Establishes the Game and Fish In-Lieu Fee Program Restoration Endowment Trust Fund to be administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission for fulfilling federal clean water act obligations as an in-lieu fee sponsor.

Trust fund receives compensatory mitigation monies from federal permittees purchasing in-lieu fee credits, monies from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for approved programs, and monies from federal enforcement action resolutions.

Trust fund monies are continuously appropriated, do not revert to the state general fund, and are exempt from lapsing appropriation provisions; the State Treasurer holds and invests trust monies separately from other state treasury accounts.

Commission may spend trust fund monies solely for purposes authorized under agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency for in-lieu fee projects.

Amends section 35-142 to designate clean water act in-lieu fee monies received by the Game and Fish Commission as a separate special trust fund rather than depositing them in the state general fund.