Senate Bill 1477 Summary

• Amends A.R.S. § 37-483 to extend the deadline for establishing a hazardous vegetation removal program from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2020, promoting best land management practices on state lands for fire suppression and forest management.

• Expands the program's scope to include coordination with federal and tribal lands to protect critical infrastructure or water supplies through removal of hazardous vegetation.

• Allows the commissioner or state forester to coordinate with public agencies and private entities, use recidivism reduction programs, and enter intergovernmental agreements to share costs of hazardous vegetation removal.

• Extends the program's sunset date from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028, at which point it will terminate under A.R.S. § 41-3102.

• Appropriates $4,000,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-2020 to the state forester for implementation of the hazardous vegetation removal program, exempt from lapsing provisions.