The Legislature's fractured Republican majority struggled Monday to reach a budget agreement, bringing Arizona within hours of a nearly total government shutdown.

With hours remaining before the start of fiscal 2010, lawmakers had not yet sent a budget to Gov. Jan Brewer.

Without a budget, it is unclear which government functions could continue. Arizona has never shut down for the lack of a budget, leaving state officials without a clear sense of how to proceed if lawmakers do not reach a deal with the governor.

State agency officials said they would need nearly $200 million a month for "essential" services, from the Highway Patrol to keeping prisons open.

But unless a deal is reached, scores of government functions would grind to a halt. Under plans submitted by agencies to the Department of Administration, driver's licenses would be unavailable, road construction would come to a standstill and reports of child abuse would not be investigated.

Across the state, parks would close, visitation at state prisons would be suspended and the Department of Health Services would be unable to track infectious diseases.

Meanwhile, state employees were uncertain whether medical appointments they make during a shutdown could be billed to their insurers.

Jimmy Chavez, president of the Arizona Highway Patrol Association, said a shutdown could idle nearly half the Highway Patrol.

"It's an impact to public safety," he said.

To avoid a shutdown, one of three scenarios would likely need to take place:



��Republican leaders reach a deal with Brewer, the budget is approved and signed, and lawmakers go home for the year.



��Brewer agrees to sign a portion of the budget bills passed June 4 in order to preserve basic government functions, using her line-item veto to remove portions she opposes. She could then call a special session to address other budget issues, such as her desire to refer a temporary sales-tax increase to voters.



��Lawmakers pass a continuing resolution, which would fund limited government operations over a short period.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Russell Pearce said he is working on a plan to keep government operating if there is not a budget agreement by the end of today.

That plan would use the fiscal 2010 budget that lawmakers passed June 4 as a baseline for week-by-week spending.

After one week using the 2010 figures to keep government going, Pearce said, the Legislature would ratchet down the number of services and agencies that are financed. He did not have details on which non-essential services would be cut.

A continuing resolution would require approval from the Legislature and a signature by the governor. Because it is an appropriations bill, it would take effect immediately.

But, as of Monday evening, the Governor's Office had not been briefed on which government functions would be contained in a continuing resolution.

Democrats criticized the slow pace of Republicans' budget negotiations, saying that their contingency plans for a government shutdown should be made public.

"The citizens of Arizona deserve to know how government would function on at least an emergency basis," said Sen. Paula Aboud, D-Tucson.

But Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said suspending the state's operations could be necessary to bring Arizona's expenses in line with revenue.

"We need to right-size Arizona's government, and we need to do it quickly," Gould said. "If we have to shut down government to do that, so be it."

Reporters Mary Jo Pitzl and Matthew Benson contributed to this article.