5th Sub.
H.B.
51
WATER RIGHT AMENDMENTS
House Floor
Intent Language
Amendment 1 February 26, 2008 10:43 am
Representative Kay L. McIff
proposes the following intent language:
Because our state policy is to secure the maximum use and benefit of our scarce water resources, a person
entitled to the use of water has a continuing obligation to place all of a water right to beneficial use except as
provided in Section 73-1-4 as amended by 5th Substitute H.B. 51, "Water Right Amendments." The forfeiture
of all or part of any right to use water for failure to place all or part of the water to beneficial use makes possible
the allocation and use of water consistent with long established beneficial use concepts.
Fifth Substitute H.B. 51, "Water Right Amendments," is not intended to:
(1) change the way the State Engineer evaluates change applications based on historic beneficial use;
(2) provide a mechanism for public water suppliers to hoard water beyond the amount of water needed in the
next 40 years by persons within the public water supplier's projected service area;
(3) validate any invalid water rights;
(4) promote or allow for speculation in water rights; or
(5) provide a mechanism for any out-of-state person or entity to acquire water rights in Utah for the purpose of
providing water in another state.
The amendments made to Section 73-1-4 by 5th Substitute H.B. 51, "Water Right Amendments," should be
construed to carry out these purposes and policies.
Page 1 of 1
hb0051s05.hfa.01.erb.wpd
LRGC
EmilyBrown
EmilyBrown