Arizona State Trust Land Amendment, Proposition 119 (2012)

Proposition 119
Quick stats
Type:	Constitutional amendment
Constitution:	Arizona Constitution
Referred by:	Arizona State Legislature
Topic:	Property
Status:	Approved a

The Arizona State Trust Land Amendment, also known as Proposition 119, was on the November 6, 2012 general election ballot in the state of Arizona as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved. The measure authorized the Arizona Legislature to enact a process to exchange trust land if the exchange was related to protecting military installations and managing lands. The formal title of the bill was Senate Concurrent Resolution 1001.

Election results

See also: 2012 ballot measure election results

The following are official election results:

Arizona Proposition 119
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		1,194,594	61.9%
No		733,907	38.1%

Results via the Arizona Secretary of State.

Text of the measure

Summary

The summary of the measure read as follows:

“

A Concurrent Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Arizona; Amending Article X, Constitution of Arizona, by adding Section 12; Relating to state trust lands.

”

Support

The following is information obtained from the supporting side of the measure:

• The main campaign for the measure was Yes on Prop 119.
• State Senator John Nelson was a supporter of the measure.
• League of Arizona Cities and Towns were also supporters.
• Sandy Bahr, director of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, stated, "The bottom line is the voters have the last say on these land exchanges. This isn't open-ended, broad authority for the state Land Department to go out and do a deal.”
  • Bahr later stated, "It'll mean a proper analysis and discussion rather than carte blanche authority to exchange land by the state saying 'just trust us.'"

Arguments

The following are arguments submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State in favor of the measure. More arguments can be read here:

• "This proposed constitutional amendment, if passed by the voters, authorizes land exchanges between the State Land Department and the Federal Government. The land exchanges can be for two purposes: improving the management of the state lands for the purpose of sale or lease or conversion to public use or for the protecting military facilities. Any exchange will have to be referred to the ballot by the legislature and approved by the voters in order to be consummated. All exchanges must have two appraisals, an analysis, and be vetted at two public meetings. Full and up-front disclosure of the parcels involved is also required, so there will be no surprises regarding which lands are involved. Voters have been skeptical of past land exchange measures that gave broad open-ended exchange authority to the State Land Department. This measure reigns in that authority and says there must be public involvement and review as well as public support via a vote prior to any exchange. This will help address checkerboard land ownership that hinders protection of wildlife habitat and will help protect state trust lands that are adjacent to some military facilities. We encourage you to vote "yes" on this important measure."

Submitted by John Nelson, State Senator, Arizona State Senate, Legislative District 12, Litchfield Park Sandy Bahr, Director, Sierra Club-Grand Canyon Chapter, Phoenix. (Paid for by Yes on Prop 119 Committee)

• "Proposition 119 is Arizona's opportunity to communicate to the United States Department of Defense that we are serious about protecting and preserving our military bases and facilities. Please vote YES on Proposition 119.Preserving our system of military bases in Arizona not only guarantees that many of America's greatest heroes reside in our own communities and become part of the fabric of our future, but also that the military industry continues to be viable here - and that means keeping thousands of jobs and an economic contribution in excess of $9 billion per year. Proposition 119 allows the Arizona State Land Department to help in preserving military bases and facilities by providing land for those uses, while, at the same time, earning money for public schools and other institutions, which own those lands in Trust. I participated in drafting Proposition 119, and am pleased to say it honors private property rights, including our precious water rights, through independent appraisals and public hearings. Another significant benefit of Proposition 119 is that it requires all parties involved to engage in thorough and transparent public processes and hearings before any land exchange is undertaken. It is also important to note that EACH proposed land exchange would go to a statewide VOTE. These kinds of exchanges could lead to more thoughtful land use decisions in many Arizona communities. Please vote "yes" on Proposition 119. It will lead to great things for Arizona."

Submitted by Maria Baier, Arizona State Land Commissioner.

Opposition

• According to reports, no formal opposition has been formed against the measure.

Campaign contributions

Support

The following are contributions made in support of the measure:

Total campaign cash
Support:	$47,087.35
Opposition:	$0

Donor	Amount
Yes on Prop 119	$47,087.35

Opposition

No campaign contributions were made in opposition of the measure, according to state election websites.

Media endorsements

See also: Endorsements of Arizona ballot measures, 2012

• According to the Yuma Sun, "Before any land exchange could take place, there would be public hearings, appraisals and studies of the cost and benefits. The Legislature would have to sign off on any trade and, finally, voters would have to approve it. That is a deep layer of protections and we hope voters will support Proposition 119. It would have particular benefits for our community, but it would also help protect bases in other parts of the state.

Path to the ballot

A majority vote was required in the Arizona State Legislature to send a constitutional amendment to the ballot. Arizona is one of ten states that allow a referred amendment to go on the ballot after a majority vote in one session of the state's legislature.

See also

Suggest a link

• Arizona 2012 ballot measures
• 2012 ballot measures
• Arizona Legislature
• List of Arizona ballot measures

External links

• Office of the Secretary of State - 2012 Ballot Measure / Proposition Information