Sec 8-1164. Designation of regions

A. The board shall designate regions covering the entire state, each of which shall have a regional partnership council as provided by this article.

B. When designating regions, the board shall consider existing regional boundaries and organizations, distribution of populations and services and other factors demonstrating relationship or cohesion of persons and organizations within a region.

C. The board shall make initial regional designations no later than December 1, 2007. The board may redesignate regions in its discretion no later than January 15 of any even-numbered year, beginning in 2010.

D. Indian tribes recognized by the federal government with tribal lands located in the state of Arizona may:

1. Participate in the designated geographical region or regions in which their tribal lands are located.

2. Elect to have its tribal lands treated as a separate region by the board. If a tribe so elects, it shall inform the board by March 1 of any even-numbered year, beginning in 2008, that it wishes to be treated as a separate region for the next two fiscal years.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)