SB 1278
Initials CW/TM Page 1 Caucus & COW
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
Senate: FED DPA/SE 4-2-1-0 | 3
rd
Read 16-12-2-0-0
House: NREW DP 5-3-0-2
SB 1278: department of natural resources
Sponsor: Senator Finchem, LD 1
Caucus & COW
Overview
Establishes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Commission of Natural
Resources and outlines their duties and responsibilities.
History
Established in 1915, the State Land Department (SLD) currently manages approximately
9.2 million acres of state trust lands which were granted to the state at statehood. These
lands are held in trust and are managed for the sole purpose of generating revenue for the
13 state land beneficiaries. The Department is not a regulatory agency but is the trustee of
the state's trust land and its natural resources (SLD).
The SLD administers laws related to lands owned by, belonging to and under control of the
state, which includes both trust land and sovereign land. The SLD also manages and controls
the products and uses of state land including timber, stone, gravel, grazing and farming.
(A.R.S. § 37-102).
Provisions
1. Modifies the definition of state land to include only state trust land, held in trust for
named beneficiaries, and provides that, for purposes of the DNR, state land:
a) means land owned by the state and not held in trust;
b) means land acquired by the state after the effective date of this act; and
c) does not include land acquired by a university under the Arizona Board of Regents or
the Arizona Department of Transportation.
2. Establishes the DNR to:
a) administer the laws of the state relating to natural resources;
b) oversee the acquisition and management of all state lands;
c) hold or convey state lands; and
d) open state lands for recreation agriculture, resource extraction, or other purposes.
(Sec.2)
3. Allows the DNR Director to issue, deny or modify any permit or permitting decision made
by an agency of this state regarding the extraction of natural resources. (Sec.2)
4. Vests control of the DNR with the Commission of Natural Resources (Commission) and
authorizes the Commission to appoint a Director. (Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note
SB 1278
Initials CW/TM Page 2 Caucus & COW
5. States the Commission will consist of five board members appointed for a term of five
years. The Commission will consist of three members appointed by the Governor, one
member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives. (Sec.2)
6. Defines Commission as the Commission on Natural Resources. (Sec.2)
7. Defines Department as the Department of Natural Resources. (Sec.2 )
8. Defines Director to mean the Executive Officer of the Department of Natural Resources
who is appointed by the Commission. (Sec.2)
9. Defines state lands to mean all lands that are owned by this state, are not state trust
lands and are acquired after the effective date. Does not include lands acquired by a
University under the jurisdiction of Arizona Board of Regents or the Department of
Transportation. (Sec.2)
10. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec.1)