Agency: Governor's Office

Line Item: Constitutional Defense Council

Background

This line item was created during the 2012 General Session to track a $1.8 million appropriation to the Constitutional Defense Council (CDC) from the Constitutional Defense Restricted Account.

This appropriation was made to ensure funding is available for public land litigation cases currently in process. Some of these cases include RS2477 roads, title transfer of public lands from the United States to the State of Utah, state water rights, etc.

Additional detail about the CDC and the Constitutional Defense Restricted Account can be found in the Public Lands Litigation line item and also the Commission on Federalism section of this compendium of budget information. The Commission on Federalism is a program found under the Governor's Office line item.

Intent Language

Under section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Governor's Office-Constitution Defense Council in Item 27 Chapter 417 Laws of Utah 2012 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2013.

Funding Detail

During the 2013 General Session, the Legislature passed H.B. 131, "Constitutional and Federalism Defense Act," which carried a one-time appropriation of ($79,800) from the Constitutional Defense Council line item to the General Fund. This appropriation brought the total balance in this line item to about $1.76 million.

The CDC must approve spending from the Constitutional Defense Restricted account prior to the usage of any funds.