HB 2390 — law clinic; stream adjudications; appropriation.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced Version Current html

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a pro bono water rights adjudication law clinic at universities under the Arizona Board of Regents and appropriates $500,000 for this purpose.

• 15-1647

  A UNIVERSITY UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS MAY OFFER PRO BONO assistance TO CLAIMANTS IN THE GENERAL STREAM ADJUDICATION OF WATER RIGHTS FILED PURSUANT TO title 45, CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 9 WHO ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL AND WHOse adjusted gross income for any of the preceding three years is less than five hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines. A university that offers assistance pursuant to this subsection may represent a CLAIMANT in the adjudication until that claimant proceeds to an evidentiary hearing or to some other contested proceeding that is similar to a trial. If the claimant has not settled the claim, the university may not REPRESENT that claimant at an evidentiary or similarly contested hearing.

  This creates a new section allowing certain universities to provide legal assistance to low-income claimants in water rights cases.

• 15-1647

  ANY UNIVERSITY THAT OFFERS ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION A OF THIS SECTION SHALL COOPERATE AND COORDINATE WITH the FACULTY OF A COOPERATIVE EXTENSION IN THIS STATE THAT HAS A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES in those rural communities.

  This mandates partnering with cooperative extensions to support rural community programs.

• 15-1647

  ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 15 OF EACH YEAR, A UNIVERSITY THAT OFFERS ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION A OF THIS SECTION SHALL submit A WRITTEN REPORT OF the university's assistance ACTIVITIES TO THE governor, the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

  This requires an annual reporting of activities related to the assistance provided to the governor and legislature.

• The sum of $500,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2021-2022 to the university of Arizona to establish an adjudication law clinic to assist claimants in the general stream adjudication of water rights pursuant to section 15-1647, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.

  This appropriates funding to establish a law clinic focused on water rights adjudication.

• Monies that are appropriated in subsection A of this section are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.

  This ensures that the funds appropriated for the law clinic do not lapse, allowing continuous funding.

Action History

1. January 25, 2021

   House Second Reading

2. January 21, 2021

   House First Reading.

Sponsors

• Gail Griffin · Primary
• Russell Bowers · Cosponsor

Subjects