Bill > SCR1026

This resolution proposes an amendment to the Arizona Constitution to address what happens if a new fiscal year begins without a general appropriation bill being signed into law. Currently, the constitution states that the general appropriation bill should only include specific types of spending. This amendment would create a "continuing appropriation" mechanism, meaning that if a new budget isn't passed, the previous year's general appropriation bill would remain in effect. However, this continuation would not be a simple copy-paste; a joint legislative budget committee would be required to make adjustments to remove one-time expenses, account for debt payments, and factor in inflation and enrollment growth for key state programs like education, healthcare, child safety, and economic security. There's a crucial exception: this continuing appropriation would not apply if the adjusted budget from the previous year, combined with other legally mandated spending, would exceed the state's projected general fund revenues for the new fiscal year. The legislature would also be empowered to pass laws to enforce these provisions, and the proposed amendment would be put to a vote of the people at the next general election.

Budget and Finance

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/85005