LEBSF LETTER FROM AZ GAME AND FISH MCSO.PDF

July 2, 2012
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
Capri Jungels, Grant Administrator
234 North Central Avenue, 7th Floor
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Dear Ms. Jungels;
In 2011, the Arizona State Legislature transferred the administration of the Law Enforcement and
Boating Safety Fund (LEBSF) from Arizona State Parks to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
The purpose of the fund is to assist counties in providing boating law enforcement and emergency
medical responses on Arizona’s waterways. Eligible counties are limited to Boards of Supervisors of
Arizona counties that have had a law enforcement and boating safety program in existence before
July 1, 1990. The statute (A.R.S. § 5-383) specifies that LEBSF funds are appropriated for boating
law enforcement, personnel, equipment, and training. Eligible equipment shall include boats, trailer,
motor, radios, lights, sirens, first-aid equipment, GPS, sonar/radar equipment, diving equipment,
search and rescue equipment related to recreational boating and EMS responses, intoxilyzer
instruments, phlebotomy supplies or services, hazard buoys and navigational signage, warning
devices, accident investigation tools (i.e. equipment and computer software) pertinent to accident
investigations, personnel protection equipment, mobile data terminals, operation and maintenance
(specifically repair costs to keep the boat and allowable equipment functional).
LEBSF revenues are derived from a portion of watercraft license fees paid by boaters at the time
boats are registered. These funds will be distributed directly by the State Treasurer on a monthly
basis, beginning August 1, 2012. LEBSF funds are allocated to the Counties based on an annually
approved formula determined by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission In determination of these
allocations, the currently approved formula will use the number of deputies contributing to the
county’s boating safety program and a mid-range salary for those deputies (see attachment).
Additionally the number of boat use days for each county will be derived from the most recent
Arizona Watercraft Survey (the most recent completed in 2009).
You will no longer be required to apply for LEBSF; as funds will be allocated based on the
Commission-approved formula and directly disbursed by the State Treasurer. However, to allow us
to calculate the correct allocation, your agency must supply the Department with specifically
requested information. Those counties that supply incomplete or late information will cause their
disbursement of future LEBSF funds to be delayed and funds may be reallocated proportionately
among the other counties. For audit purposes, it is important that your agency maintain accurate and
complete records to support the LEBSF allocation and ensure the expenditures are statutorily
eligible.

LEBSF Communication
Page 2
Each year, by January 31, you must provide the following information which will be used in the
subsequent fiscal year’s allocation formula:
• A briefing narrative that describes your recreational boating enforcement and boating safety
program and how the LEBSF funds assist in meeting your county’s boating enforcement
boating safety needs;
• The ability of your county to provide additional or match funding for the program;
• The number of deputies that are assigned to boating enforcement or boating emergency
medical responses;
• The mid-range salary point for your deputies.
At the end of each fiscal year an annual report of LEBSF expenditures and an activity report of
metric products will be required (see attachments). Both reports will be due 60 days following the
end of the fiscal year with the FY 2013 due by August 31, 2013. The attached Activity Report Form
is an example of the metrics requested; a computer-generated form including the same metrics is
also acceptable.
Reports should be submitted to:
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Attn: Tim Baumgarten
Watercraft Enforcement Program Manager
Law Enforcement Branch
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Thank you for your continued commitment to boating safety on Arizona’s waterways. If your staff
or your financial administrators have any questions, please contact me at (623) 236-7206 or by
electronic communication at tbaumgarten@azgfd.gov.
Sincerely,
Timothy O. Baumgarten
Watercraft Enforcement Program Manager
Cc: Kevin Bergersen, Boating Law Administrator
Captain W. Hindman
Lt. Russ Skinner
Attachments