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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="HB0069" sponsor="Carl R. Albrecht" designation="HB" otherSponsor="Keven J. Stratton" otherHouse="Senate" sess="2026GS" fileno="2026FL0792" date="12/22/2025 16:12:433" printDate="01-22 11:59" subVer="0" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>10</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="05/06/2026"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="7" uid="C19-4-S109_2026050620260506" fromuid="C19-4-S109_2025110620251206" sort="19 04 01090020260506" mtype="section" effdate="05/06/2026" libenddate="07/01/2029" endtype="SN">19-4-109</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="9" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/06/2026"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Drinking Water Restructuring Amendments</st><sessionhead>2026 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Carl R. Albrecht</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>Senate Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton</otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><cn numlevel="1" lineno="4" slineno="0-4">Committee Note:<comrec voteid="38417" comcode="SPESWD" numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5"> The Legislative Water Development Commission recommended this bill.<legvote numlevel="1" lineno="6" slineno="0-6">Legislative Vote:<yes>10 voting for</yes><no>0 voting against</no><abs>4 absent</abs></legvote></comrec></cn><gdhead lineno="7">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8">This bill addresses violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act.</gd><hphead lineno="9">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="11" slineno="0-11" level="1">creates and modifies terms;</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="12" slineno="0-12" level="1">allows a court to:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="13" slineno="0-13" level="2">appoint a receiver for a public water system to implement a corrective or remedial <ln numlevel="1" lineno="14" slineno="0-14"/>action for a violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) or compliance order; <ln numlevel="1" lineno="15" slineno="0-15"/>and</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="16" slineno="0-16" level="2">require a violator to divest ownership of the public water system to ensure long-term <ln numlevel="1" lineno="17" slineno="0-17"/>compliance with SDWA; and</hl></hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="18" slineno="0-18" level="1">makes technical and conforming changes.</hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="19" slineno="0-19" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="20">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="0-21">Other Special Clauses:</oc><ocNone lineno="22">None</ocNone><sa numlevel="1" lineno="23" slineno="0-23">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="0-24"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="19-4-109" src="code" uid="C19-4-S109_2026050620260506" buid="7" sort="19 04 01090020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="0-25"><bold>19-4-109</bold>, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 16</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="26"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="0-27">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="7" num="19-4-109" type="amend" src="code" uid="C19-4-S109_2026050620260506" sort="19 04 01090020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="19-4-109" numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="28">Section 1. Section <bold>19-4-109</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="29"><bold>19-4-109<parens/>. Violations -- Penalties -- Reimbursement for expenses.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="7-null-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-3" level="1" placement="noreturn"><display>(1)</display>As used in this section<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="6" groupid="5" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">,</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="5" groupid="4" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">:</amend> <subsection ssid="7-33" dnum="_-o:a-i" numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-4" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1001" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both">(a)</amend></display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="13" groupid="11" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">"criminal </amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="12" groupid="10" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">"Criminal </amend>negligence" means the same as that term is defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-2-103"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-5"/>76-2-103</xref>.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-34" dnum="_-o:b-i" numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-6" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1002" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="11" groupid="9" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">"Receiver" means an individual appointed by the court as the court's agent to take <ln numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-7"/>possession of, manage, and, if authorized by this section or court order, transfer, sell, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-8"/>divest, lease, license, exchange, collect, or otherwise dispose of receivership property.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-2" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-9" level="1" space="false"><display>(2)</display><subsection ssid="7-null-3" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>A person <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="46" groupid="38" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">who</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="45" groupid="37" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">that</amend> violates this chapter, a rule or order issued under the authority <ln numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-10"/>of this chapter, or the terms of a permit or other administrative authorization issued <ln numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-11"/>under the authority of this chapter is subject to an administrative penalty:<subsection ssid="7-null-4" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-12" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>not to exceed $1,000 per day per violation, with respect to a public water system <ln numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-13"/>serving a population of less than 10,000 individuals; or</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-5" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-14" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>exactly $1,000 per day per violation, with respect to a public water system <ln numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-15"/>serving a population of more than 10,000 individuals.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-6" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-16" level="2"><display>(b)</display>In all cases, each day of violation is considered a separate violation.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-7" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-17" level="1"><display>(3)</display>The director may assess and make a demand for payment of an administrative penalty <ln numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-18"/>under this section and may compromise or settle that penalty.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-8" dnum="4-o" numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-19" level="1"><display>(4)</display>To make a demand for payment of an administrative penalty assessed under this section, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-20"/>the director shall issue a notice of agency action, specifying, in addition to the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-21"/>requirements for notices of agency action contained in Title <xref depth="1" refnumber="63G-4">63G, Chapter 4</xref>, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-22"/>Administrative Procedures Act:<subsection ssid="7-null-9" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-23" level="2"><display>(a)</display>the date, facts, and nature of each act or omission charged;</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-10" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-24" level="2"><display>(b)</display>the provision of the statute, rule, order, permit, or administrative authorization that is <ln numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-25"/>alleged to have been violated;</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-11" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-26" level="2"><display>(c)</display>each penalty that the director proposes to assess, together with the amount and date <ln numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-27"/>of effect of that penalty; and</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-12" dnum="d-o" numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-28" level="2"><display>(d)</display>that failure to pay the penalty or respond may result in a civil action for collection.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-13" dnum="5-o" numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-29" level="1"><display>(5)</display>A person notified according to Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="19-4-109(4)">(4)</xref> may request an adjudicative proceeding.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-14" dnum="6-o" numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-30" level="1"><display>(6)</display>Upon request by the director, the attorney general may institute a civil action to collect a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-31"/>penalty assessed under this section.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-15" dnum="7-o" numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-32" level="1" space="false"><display>(7)</display><subsection ssid="7-null-16" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>A person who, with criminal negligence, violates any rule or order made or issued <ln numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-33"/>pursuant to this chapter, or with criminal negligence fails to take corrective action <ln numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-34"/>required by an order, is guilty of a class B misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not <ln numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="1-35"/>more than $5,000 per day for each day of violation.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-17" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="1-36" level="2"><display>(b)</display>In addition, the person is subject, in a civil proceeding, to a penalty of not more than <ln numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="1-37"/>$5,000 per day for each day of violation.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-18" dnum="8-o" numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="1-38" level="1" space="false"><display>(8)</display><subsection ssid="7-null-19" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The director may bring a civil action for appropriate relief, including a permanent <ln numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="1-39"/>or temporary injunction, for a violation for which the director is authorized to issue a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="1-40"/>compliance order under <amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="14" groupid="12" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both">Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="19-4-106(2)(d)">19-4-106(2)(d)</xref> or </amend>Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="19-4-107">19-4-107</xref>.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-20" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="1-41" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Notwithstanding Title <xref depth="1" refnumber="78B-3a">78B, Chapter 3a</xref>, Venue for Civil Actions, the director shall <ln numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="1-42"/>bring an action under this Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="19-4-109(8)">(8)</xref> in the county where the violation occurs if <ln numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="1-43"/>the director brings the action in a district court.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-35" dnum="_-o:c-i" numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="1-44" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1022" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(c)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="16" groupid="14" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">In a civil action brought by the director under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="19-4-109(8)(a)">(8)(a)</xref>, a court may:</amend><subsection ssid="7-36" dnum="_-o:i-i" numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="1-45" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="3"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1023" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(i)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="23" groupid="19" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">appoint a receiver for a supplier in accordance with Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="1-46"/>Rule 66, to implement a corrective or remedial action for a violation described in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="74" slineno="1-47"/>Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="19-4-109(8)(a)">(8)(a)</xref> if:</amend><subsection ssid="7-37" dnum="_-o:A-i" numlevel="1" lineno="75" slineno="1-48" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="4"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1024" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(A)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="28" groupid="23" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">the violation poses a serious public health risk; and</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="7-38" dnum="_-o:B-i" numlevel="1" lineno="76" slineno="1-49" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="4"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1025" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(B)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="33" groupid="27" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">the supplier in violation is unwilling or unable to implement a corrective or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="77" slineno="1-50"/>remedial action to resolve the violation in a manner consistent with this <ln numlevel="1" lineno="78" slineno="1-51"/>chapter; and</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="7-39" dnum="_-o:ii-i" numlevel="1" lineno="79" slineno="1-52" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="3"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1026" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(ii)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="38" groupid="31" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end"> require a supplier in violation to divest ownership of a public water system if the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="80" slineno="1-53"/>court finds divestiture is reasonably necessary to ensure long-term compliance <ln numlevel="1" lineno="81" slineno="1-54"/>with this chapter.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="7-40" dnum="_-o:d-i" numlevel="1" lineno="82" slineno="1-55" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1027" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(d)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="43" groupid="35" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">Nothing in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="19-4-109(8)(c)">(8)(c)</xref> limits the ability of the director to seek appropriate <ln numlevel="1" lineno="83" slineno="1-56"/>relief under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="19-4-109(8)(a)">(8)(a)</xref>.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-21" dnum="9-o" numlevel="1" lineno="84" slineno="1-57" level="1" space="false"><display>(9)</display><subsection ssid="7-null-22" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The attorney general is the legal advisor for the board and the director and shall <ln numlevel="1" lineno="85" slineno="1-58"/>defend them in an action or proceeding brought against the board or director.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-23" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="86" slineno="1-59" level="2"><display>(b)</display>The county attorney or district attorney, as appropriate under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="17-68-302">17-68-302</xref> or <xref depth="3" refnumber="17-68-303"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="87" slineno="1-60"/>17-68-303</xref>, in the county in which a cause of action arises, shall bring an action, civil <ln numlevel="1" lineno="88" slineno="1-61"/>or criminal, requested by the director, to abate a condition that exists in violation of, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="89" slineno="1-62"/>or to prosecute for the violation of, or to enforce the laws or the standards, orders, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="90" slineno="1-63"/>and rules of the board or the director issued under this chapter.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-24" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="91" slineno="1-64" level="2"><display>(c)</display>The director may initiate action under this section and be represented by the attorney <ln numlevel="1" lineno="92" slineno="1-65"/>general.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-25" dnum="10-o" numlevel="1" lineno="93" slineno="1-66" level="1"><display>(10)</display>If a person fails to comply with a cease and desist order that is not subject to a stay <ln numlevel="1" lineno="94" slineno="1-67"/>pending administrative or judicial review, the director may initiate an action for and be <ln numlevel="1" lineno="95" slineno="1-68"/>entitled to injunctive relief to prevent further or continued violation of the order.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-26" dnum="11-o" numlevel="1" lineno="96" slineno="1-69" level="1"><display>(11)</display>A bond may not be required for injunctive relief under this chapter.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-27" dnum="12-o" numlevel="1" lineno="97" slineno="1-70" level="1" space="false"><display>(12)</display><subsection ssid="7-null-28" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="19-4-109(12)(b)">(12)(b)</xref>, a penalty assessed and collected under <ln numlevel="1" lineno="98" slineno="1-71"/>the authority of this section shall be deposited into the General Fund.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-29" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="99" slineno="1-72" level="2"><display>(b)</display>The department may reimburse itself and local governments from money collected <ln numlevel="1" lineno="100" slineno="1-73"/>from civil penalties for extraordinary expenses incurred in environmental <ln numlevel="1" lineno="101" slineno="1-74"/>enforcement activities.</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-30" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="102" slineno="1-75" level="2"><display>(c)</display>The department shall regulate reimbursements by making rules that define:<subsection ssid="7-null-31" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="103" slineno="1-76" level="3"><display>(i)</display>qualifying environmental enforcement activities; and</subsection><subsection ssid="7-null-32" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="104" slineno="1-77" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>qualifying extraordinary expenses.</subsection></subsection></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="9" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="105" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="105">Section 2.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="106"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="5/6/2026">May 6, 2026</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>12-22-25 4:03 PM</tm></rev></foot></leg>