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SB 1241: Restoring the AZ State Parks Heritage Fund

by | Feb 7, 2019 | Government, Organizations

SB 1241: Restoring the AZ State Parks Heritage Fund on Senate Appropriations Committee Agenda for February 19, 2019

ADVOCACY ALERT – SB1241 Restoring the Parks Heritage Fund

by Janice Miano, President, Arizona Heritage Alliance
Dear Friends of the Heritage Fund

On February 12, SB 1241 – state parks board: heritage fund– for restoring the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund was heard at the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee and passed with an unanimous vote of 7-0.

The bill is now scheduled to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee – Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 2 p.m. in SR 109.  Here is a one page summary of SB1241 for your reference.

We request that you please submit your position through the Legislature’s “Request to Speak (RTS)” system. If you don’t have an account for the Legislature’s Request To Speak System, please link here for detailed instructions. In the meantime, please call or email the following legislators who serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee and let them know you want them to SUPPORT SB 1241.  

State Senator Phone Email
Lela Alston 602-926-5829 Lalston@azleg.gov
Sean Bowie 602-926-3004 sbowie@azleg.gov
Heather Carter 602-926-5503 hcarater@azleg.gov
David Gowan, Chair 602-926-5154 dgowan@azleg.gov
Sine Kerr 602-926-5955 skerr@azleg.gov
Vince Leach, Vice Chair 602-926-3106 vleach@azleg.gov
David Livingston 602-926-4178 dlivingston@azleg.gov
Lisa Otondo 602-926-3002 Lotondo@azleg.gov
Michelle Ugenti-Rita 602-926-4480 Mugenti-rita@azleg.gov

From the time Arizona voters approved the creation of the Fund to the Great Recession when it was defunded and removed from statute, the Fund served our state well with its dedication to parks, outdoor recreation, open space, non-motorized trails, outdoor and environmental education, and historic preservation. It is our hope that this Legislature restores the Fund after satisfying all other current encumbrances, and to bring the Fund back to effect in a responsible and deliberate manner.

Why the Fund is important. Arizona’s local, regional, and state parks and recreation facilities are economic development generators that encourage the spending of tourist dollars, attract businesses whose workforce choose jobs in locations with quality of life benefits, strengthen community cohesion, and increase property values. Historic preservation initiatives in our rural communities and urban areas promote economic development by creating jobs, revitalizing historic areas, increasing property values, and promoting heritage tourism.

Thank you for all the work you do to improve our state’s quality of life and to support the reinstatement of the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund.  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at mail@azheritage.org or call 602-528-7500.

Janice Miano
President, Board of Directors
The Arizona Heritage Alliance
azheritage.org