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H.B. 184

             1     

WATER RIGHTS OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

             2     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Michael R. Styler

             5      AN ACT RELATING TO WATER AND IRRIGATION; SPECIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR
             6      UPDATING WATER RIGHT OWNERSHIP ON RECORDS OF THE STATE ENGINEER;
             7      AND AUTHORIZING THE STATE ENGINEER TO MAKE RULES AND CHARGE FEES.
             8      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             9      AMENDS:
             10          73-1-10, as last amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1999
             11          73-2-14, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 241, Laws of Utah 1995
             12      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             13          Section 1. Section 73-1-10 is amended to read:
             14           73-1-10. Conveyance of water rights -- Deed -- Exceptions -- Filing and recording
             15      of deed -- Report of water right conveyance.
             16          (1) (a) A water right, whether evidenced by a decree, a certificate of appropriation, a
             17      diligence claim to the use of surface or underground water, or a water user's claim filed in general
             18      determination proceedings, shall be transferred by deed in substantially the same manner as is real
             19      estate.
             20          (b) The deed must be recorded in the office of the recorder of the county where the point
             21      of diversion of the water is located and in the county where the water is used.
             22          (c) (i) A copy of the deed or other conveyance which contains a reference to a water right
             23      number for a water right evidenced by any document listed in Subsection 73-1-11 (5) shall be
             24      promptly transmitted by the county recorder to the state engineer for filing.
             25          (ii) The state engineer may designate regional offices to receive copies of deeds or other
             26      conveyances transmitted pursuant to Subsection (1)(c)(i). A county recorder may not be required
             27      to transmit documents to more than one regional office.


             28          (d) A recorded deed of a water right shall from the time of its filing in the office of the
             29      county recorder constitute notice of its contents to all persons.
             30          (2) The right to the use of water evidenced by shares of stock in a corporation shall be
             31      transferred in accordance with the procedures applicable to securities set forth in Title 70A,
             32      Chapter 8, Uniform Commercial Code - Investment Securities.
             33          (3) (a) To update water right ownership on the records of the state engineer, a water right
             34      owner shall submit a report of water right conveyance to the state engineer.
             35          (b) The report of water right conveyance shall be on forms provided by the state engineer.
             36          (c) The report shall be prepared by:
             37          (i) or prepared under the direction of and certified by, any of the following persons
             38      licensed in Utah:
             39          (A) an attorney;
             40          (B) a professional engineer;
             41          (C) a title insurance agent; or
             42          (D) a professional land surveyor; or
             43          (ii) the water right owner as authorized by rule of the state engineer.
             44          (d) The filing and processing of a report of water right conveyance with the state engineer
             45      is h [ not ] NEITHER h an adjudication of water right ownership h NOR AN OPINION AS TO TITLE OR
             45a      VALIDITY OF THE WATER RIGHT h .
             46          (e) The state engineer shall adopt rules that specify:
             47          (i) the information required in a report of water right conveyance; and
             48          (ii) the procedures for processing the reports.
             49          Section 2. Section 73-2-14 is amended to read:
             50           73-2-14. Fees of state engineer.
             51          (1) The state engineer shall charge fees pursuant to Section 63-38-3.2 for the following:
             52          (a) applications to appropriate water;
             53          (b) applications to temporarily appropriate water;
             54          (c) applications for permanent or temporary change;
             55          (d) applications for exchange;
             56          (e) applications for an extension of time in which to resume use of water;
             57          (f) applications to appropriate water, or make a permanent or temporary change, for use
             58      outside the state filed pursuant to Title 73, Chapter 3a, Water Exports;


             59          (g) groundwater recovery permits;
             60          (h) diligence claims for surface or underground water filed pursuant to Section 73-5-13 ;
             61          (i) republication of notice to water users after amendment of application where required
             62      by this title;
             63          (j) applications to segregate;
             64          (k) requests for an extension of time in which to submit proof of appropriation not to
             65      exceed 14 years after the date of approval of the application;
             66          (l) requests for an extension of time in which to submit proof of appropriation 14 years or
             67      more after the date of approval of the application;
             68          (m) groundwater recharge permits;
             69          (n) applications for a well driller's license, annual renewal of a well driller's license, and
             70      late annual renewal of a well driller's license;
             71          (o) certification of copies; [and]
             72          (p) preparing copies of documents[.]; and
             73          (q) reports of water right conveyance.
             74          (2) Fees for the services specified in Subsections (1)(a) through (1)(i) shall be based upon
             75      the rate of flow or volume of water. If it is proposed to appropriate by both direct flow and
             76      storage, the fee shall be based upon either the rate of flow or annual volume of water stored,
             77      whichever fee is greater.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 10-19-99 8:54 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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