Senate Commerce COR Office of Sonora Final
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ARIZONA STATE SENATE RESEARCH STAFF TO: JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMITTEE LAURA BENITEZ LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST DATE: January 15, 2021 COMMERCE COMMITTEE Telephone: (602) 926-3171 SUBJECT: Sunset Review of the Office of Sonora Attached is the final report of the sunset review of the Office of Sonora, which was conducted by the Senate Commerce Committee of Reference. This report has been distributed to the following individuals and agencies: Governor of the State of Arizona The Honorable Douglas A. Ducey President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives Senator Karen Fann Representative Russell Bowers Senate Members Senator J.D. Mesnard, Chair Senator Sonny Borrelli Senator Sean Bowie Senator Rosanna Gabaldon Senator David Livingston Senator Tony Navarrete Senator Tyler Pace Senator Jamescita Peshlakai Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita Office of Sonora Office of the Auditor General Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Senate Resource Center Office of the Chief Clerk Senate Republican Staff House Republican Staff Senate Democratic Staff House Democratic Staff Senate Research Staff House Research Staff Senate Commerce Committee of Reference Final Report Office of Sonora Background Pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-2953, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee assigned the sunset review of the Office of Sonora to the Senate Commerce Committee of Reference and House State & International Affairs Committee of Reference. In 1993, the Legislature established the Office of Sonora within the Governor's Office. The Office of Sonora is charged with facilitating the North American Free Trade Agreement, commercial relationships, educational and training exchange programs and the growth of tourism between Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The Office of Sonora must: 1) assist the Arizona-Mexico Commission; 2) support state agencies in Sonora, Mexico; 3) formulate policies and programs; 4) advise the Governor and the Legislature; and 5) inform and advise, on request and within the scope of the Office, local, state and federal agencies and private citizens, business enterprises and community organizations (A.R.S. § 41-107). The Office of Sonora is statutorily set to terminate on July 1, 2021, unless legislation is enacted for its continuation (A.R.S. § 41-3021.07). Committee of Reference Sunset Review Activity Pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-2954, the Senate Commerce Committee of Reference held a public meeting on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, to review and consider the Office of Sonora's responses to the statutorily-outlined sunset factors and receive public testimony. Committee of Reference Recommendations The Senate Commerce Committee of Reference recommended that the Office of Sonora be continued for eight years, until July 1, 2029. Appendices 1. Meeting Notice 2. Minutes of the Senate Commerce Committee of Reference 3. Chairperson's letter requesting the Office of Sonora's response to sunset factors 4. Office of Sonora's response to sunset factors REVISED REVISED REVISED Interim agendas can be obtained via the Internet at http://www.azleg.gov/Interim-Committees ARIZONA STATE SENATE INTERIM MEETING NOTICE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE FOR THE SUNSET REVIEW OF THE OFFICE OF SONORA Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Time: 2:30 P.M. or Upon Adj. of the Senate COM Committee Place: SHR 1 for Members. This meeting will be held via teleconference software. Members of the public may access a livestream of the meeting here: https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?eventID=2021011029 AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Sunset Review of the Office of Sonora a. Presentation by the Office of Sonora b. Public Testimony c. Discussion d. Recommendation by the Committee of Reference 4. Adjourn Members: Senator J.D. Mesnard, Chair Senator Sonny Borrelli Senator Sean Bowie Senator Rosanna Gabaldón Senator David Livingston Senator Tony Navarrete Senator Tyler Pace Senator Jamescita Peshlakai Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita *In accordance with Senate Rule 26(A), any person desiring to be heard concerning legislation remotely shall email that request to ([email protected]) at least 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, in advance of committee. The request must state the bill the person desires to present arguments upon, and whom the person represents. Timely requests will receive a response that includes meeting access information to participate in the committee remotely. Sharing meeting access information with unauthorized users may result in being prohibited to participate remotely in future legislative hearings. The request to participate remotely via teleconference shall be in addition to requesting to speak via the RTS system (https://apps.azleg.gov/requesttospeak/topicsearch). Persons desiring to testify remotely shall indicate that the participation is remote within the comments of the RTS system. Public testimony is limited to remote participation. * Pending adoption of Senate Temporary Emergency Rule 32: Procedures During the COVID-19 Outbreak 01/07/2021 01/08/2021 sa For questions regarding this agenda, please contact Senate Research Department. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting the Senate Secretary’s Office: (602) 926-4231 (voice). Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Page 1 of 1 ARIZONA STATE SENATE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE FOR THE SUNSET REVIEW OF THE OFFICE OF SONORA Minutes of the Meeting January 13, 2021 2:30 P.M. SHR 1 This meeting will be held via teleconference software. Members of the public may access a livestream of the meeting here: https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?eventID=2021011029 Members Present: Senator J.D. Mesnard, Chair Senator Sonny Borrelli, participated remotely via a teleconference platform Senator Sean Bowie, participated remotely via a teleconference platform Senator Rosanna Gabaldón, participated remotely via a teleconference platform Senator David Livingston Senator Tony Navarrete Senator Jamescita Peshlakai, participated remotely via a teleconference platform Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita Members Excused: Senator Tyler Pace Staff: Laura Benitez, Senate Research Staff Maelinn Chow, Senate Research Intern Chairman Mesnard called the meeting to order at 4:18 p.m. and attendance was noted. SUNSET REVIEW OF THE OFFICE OF SONORA Presentation by the Office of Sonora Juan Ciscomani, Senior Advisor for Regional and International Affairs and Director of the Office of Sonora, Governor Doug Ducey's Office, provided a brief background on the Office of Sonora and explained the distributed handout entitled "Arizona-Mexico Commission: State of Arizona, Office in Sonora, Overview Fact Sheet, January 2021" (Attachment A). Mr. Ciscomani offered comments and answered questions posed by the Committee. The Committee discussed and offered comments for the presentation mentioned above. Public Testimony Senator Mesnard noted that there was no public testimony. Senate Commerce Committee of Reference January 13, 2021 Page 1 Discussion No further discussion took place. Recommendation by the Committee of Reference Senator Mesnard requested a motion on the recommendation by the Committee of Reference. Senator Ugenti-Rita moved that the Committee of Reference make the recommendation to continue the Office of Sonora for eight years until July 1, 2029. The motion CARRIED by voice vote. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Imee L. Andrew Committee Secretary (Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov) Senate Commerce Committee of Reference January 13, 2021 Page 2 State of Arizona | Office in Sonora Overview Fact Sheet January 2021 General Information ● Pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-107, the Arizona State Office in Sonora was established in 1992 within the Office of the Arizona Governor, as a reciprocal office to the Sonora State Office in Arizona. ● Last reviewed in 2013. Mission ● The Arizona State Office in Sonora objective and purpose is to assist with the flow of information; facilitate educational and training exchange programs; and promote tourism and cultural activities between Arizona and Sonora. Structure ● The Arizona State Office in Sonora serves a diplomatic, and not regulatory, function. ● The unique structure of the Arizona State Office in Sonora sets it apart from all other states northern and southern border states ● The reciprocal offices are housed within the executive government buildings of Arizona and Sonora, allowing accessibility to the Office of the Governor in both states. ● Because of this adaptability, the office has evolved from addressing protocol issues to playing a significant role in positioning Arizona for economic vitality today. Management ● The way in which the office was established allows each administration the flexibility to manage the office according to the administration’s priorities. ● The Arizona State Office in Sonora, under Governor Ducey’s administration, is supported by the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC). Budget ● Due to the reciprocal nature of how the Arizona State Office and the State of Sonora Office were created, and given that the Arizona State Office in Sonora is supported by the AMC, it currently presents no additional cost. Staffing ● The Arizona State Office in Sonora must have a Director appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Arizona