Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect HB0048S01.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

First Substitute H.B. 48

Senator Margaret Dayton proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Richard W. Wheeler

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Darin G. Peterson

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill makes changes to provisions governing the Department of Natural Resources.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    clarifies the definition of a trophy animal in the Wildlife Resources Code;
             14          .    allows a nonresident peace officer employed by the state to obtain a resident license
             15      to fish and hunt;
             16          .    invalidates any wildlife permit or tag obtained by fraud;
             17          .    amends the penalties for license or permit suspensions;
             18          .    allows the Wildlife Board to authorize locations where a person may donate
             19      protected wildlife;
             20          .    changes the definition of an all-terrain type I vehicle;
             21          .    extends the statute of limitations for wildland fire cost recovery;
             22          .    updates the terminology regarding fires caused by locomotive engines;
             23          .    directs state agencies and political subdivisions to pursue opportunities to open
             24      public land for responsible off-highway vehicle use;
             25          .    changes the requirement for the application to extend the amount of time a person


             26      has to put water to a beneficial use;
             27          .    allows the state engineer to send notice by regular mail;
             28          .    allows the state engineer to employ a deputy;
             29          .    clarifies the requirement for water users to install measuring devices; and
             30          .    makes technical changes.
             31      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             32          None
             33      Other Special Clauses:
             34          None
             35      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             36      AMENDS:
             37          23-13-2, as last amended by Chapter 66, Laws of Utah 2004
             38          23-19-4, as last amended by Chapter 126, Laws of Utah 1983
             39          23-19-5, as last amended by Chapter 76, Laws of Utah 1986
             40          23-19-9, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 224, Laws of Utah 2001
             41          23-20-9, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 178, Laws of Utah 1993
             42          41-22-2, as last amended by Chapter 2, Laws of Utah 2005
             43          41-22-12, as last amended by Chapter 37, Laws of Utah 1999
             44          56-1-15, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             45          65A-1-4, as last amended by Chapter 159, Laws of Utah 1996
             46          65A-6-8, as last amended by Chapter 138, Laws of Utah 1992
             47          73-1-4, as last amended by Chapter 99, Laws of Utah 2003
             48          73-2-4, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             49          73-2-25, as enacted by Chapter 33, Laws of Utah 2005
             50          73-3-8, as last amended by Chapter 139, Laws of Utah 1985
             51          73-3-12, as last amended by Chapter 58, Laws of Utah 2006
             52          73-3b-206, as enacted by Chapter 146, Laws of Utah 1991
             53          73-4-3, as last amended by Chapter 252, Laws of Utah 1979
             54          73-4-4, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             55          73-4-11, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             56          73-5-4, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             57          73-18b-1, as last amended by Chapter 276, Laws of Utah 1997
             58          78-12-23, as last amended by Chapters 79 and 210, Laws of Utah 1996
             59      RENUMBERS AND AMENDS:
             60          65A-8-101, (Renumbered from 65A-8-1, as last amended by Chapter 319, Laws of
             61      Utah 1997)
             62          65A-8-102, (Renumbered from 65A-8-2, as last amended by Chapter 294, Laws of
             63      Utah 1994)
             64          65A-8-103, (Renumbered from 65A-8-3, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 294,
             65      Laws of Utah 1994)
             66          65A-8-104, (Renumbered from 65A-8-1.1, as last amended by Chapter 294, Laws of
             67      Utah 1994)
             68          65A-8-105, (Renumbered from 65A-8-1.2, as last amended by Chapter 352, Laws of
             69      Utah 2004)
             70          65A-8-201, (Renumbered from 65A-8-4, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 294,
             71      Laws of Utah 1994)
             72          65A-8-202, (Renumbered from 65A-8-5, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 294,
             73      Laws of Utah 1994)
             74          65A-8-203, (Renumbered from 65A-8-6, as last amended by Chapter 47, Laws of Utah
             75      2004)
             76          65A-8-204, (Renumbered from 65A-8-6.1, as last amended by Chapter 256, Laws of
             77      Utah 2002)
             78          65A-8-205, (Renumbered from 65A-8-6.2, as last amended by Chapter 152, Laws of
             79      Utah 2006)
             80          65A-8-206, (Renumbered from 65A-8-6.3, as last amended by Chapter 319, Laws of
             81      Utah 1997)
             82          65A-8-207, (Renumbered from 65A-8-6.4, as last amended by Chapter 152, Laws of
             83      Utah 2006)
             84          65A-8-208, (Renumbered from 65A-8-6.5, as enacted by Chapter 319, Laws of Utah
             85      1997)
             86          65A-8-209, (Renumbered from 65A-8-7, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 294,
             87      Laws of Utah 1994)


             88          65A-8-210, (Renumbered from 65A-8-8, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 294,
             89      Laws of Utah 1994)
             90          65A-8-211, (Renumbered from 65A-8-9, as last amended by Chapter 71, Laws of Utah
             91      1998)
             92          65A-8-212, (Renumbered from 65A-8-10, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 294,
             93      Laws of Utah 1994)
             94          65A-8-301, (Renumbered from 63-11-57, as enacted by Chapter 188, Laws of Utah
             95      1975)
             96          65A-8-302, (Renumbered from 63-11-58, as last amended by Chapter 159, Laws of
             97      Utah 1996)
             98          65A-8-303, (Renumbered from 63-11-59, as last amended by Chapter 305, Laws of
             99      Utah 1983)
             100          65A-8-304, (Renumbered from 63-11-60, as last amended by Chapter 305, Laws of
             101      Utah 1983)
             102          65A-8-305, (Renumbered from 63-11-60.3, as enacted by Chapter 305, Laws of Utah
             103      1983)
             104          65A-8-306, (Renumbered from 63-11-60.4, as last amended by Chapter 10, Laws of
             105      Utah 1997)
             106          65A-8-307, (Renumbered from 63-11-61, as last amended by Chapter 305, Laws of
             107      Utah 1983)
             108          65A-8-308, (Renumbered from 63-11-64, as last amended by Chapter 38, Laws of Utah
             109      1993)
             110          65A-8-309, (Renumbered from 63-11-65, as enacted by Chapter 305, Laws of Utah
             111      1983)
             112     
             113      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             114          Section 1. Section 23-13-2 is amended to read:
             115           23-13-2. Definitions.
             116          As used in this title:
             117          (1) "Activity regulated under this title" means any act, attempted act, or activity
             118      prohibited or regulated under any provision of Title 23, Wildlife Resources Code of Utah, or


             119      the rules, and proclamations promulgated thereunder pertaining to protected wildlife including:
             120          (a) fishing;
             121          (b) hunting;
             122          (c) trapping;
             123          (d) taking;
             124          (e) permitting any dog, falcon, or other domesticated animal to take;
             125          (f) transporting;
             126          (g) possessing;
             127          (h) selling;
             128          (i) wasting;
             129          (j) importing;
             130          (k) exporting;
             131          (l) rearing;
             132          (m) keeping;
             133          (n) utilizing as a commercial venture; and
             134          (o) releasing to the wild.
             135          (2) "Aquatic animal" has the meaning provided in Section 4-37-103 .
             136          (3) "Aquatic wildlife" means species of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic insects, or
             137      amphibians.
             138          (4) "Aquaculture facility" has the meaning provided in Section 4-37-103 .
             139          (5) "Bag limit" means the maximum limit, in number or amount, of protected wildlife
             140      that one person may legally take during one day.
             141          (6) "Big game" means species of hoofed protected wildlife.
             142          (7) "Carcass" means the dead body of an animal or its parts.
             143          (8) "Certificate of registration" means a document issued under this title, or any rule or
             144      proclamation of the Wildlife Board granting authority to engage in activities not covered by a
             145      license, permit, or tag.
             146          (9) "Closed season" means the period of time during which the taking of protected
             147      wildlife is prohibited.
             148          (10) "Conservation officer" means a full-time, permanent employee of the Division of
             149      Wildlife Resources who is POST certified as a peace or a special function officer.


             150          (11) "Dedicated hunter program" means a program that provides:
             151          (a) expanded hunting opportunities;
             152          (b) opportunities to participate in projects that are beneficial to wildlife; and
             153          (c) education in hunter ethics and wildlife management principles.
             154          (12) "Division" means the Division of Wildlife Resources.
             155          (13) (a) "Domicile" means the place:
             156          (i) where an individual has a fixed permanent home and principal establishment;
             157          (ii) to which the individual if absent, intends to return; and
             158          (iii) in which the individual, and the individual's family voluntarily reside, not for a
             159      special or temporary purpose, but with the intention of making a permanent home.
             160          (b) To create a new domicile an individual must:
             161          (i) abandon the old domicile; and
             162          (ii) be able to prove that a new domicile has been established.
             163          (14) "Endangered" means wildlife designated as such [pursuant] according to Section 3
             164      of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.
             165          (15) "Fee fishing facility" has the meaning provided in Section 4-37-103 .
             166          (16) "Feral" means an animal which is normally domesticated but has reverted to the
             167      wild.
             168          (17) "Fishing" means to take fish or crayfish by any means.
             169          (18) "Furbearer" means species of the Bassariscidae, Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae, and
             170      Castoridae families, except coyote and cougar.
             171          (19) "Game" means wildlife normally pursued, caught, or taken by sporting means for
             172      human use.
             173          (20) (a) "Guide" means a person who receives compensation or advertises services for
             174      assisting another person to take protected wildlife.
             175          (b) Assistance under Subsection (20)(a) includes the provision of food, shelter, or
             176      transportation, or any combination of these.
             177          (21) "Guide's agent" means a person who is employed by a guide to assist another
             178      person to take protected wildlife.
             179          (22) "Hunting" means to take or pursue a reptile, amphibian, bird, or mammal by any
             180      means.


             181          (23) "Intimidate or harass" means to physically interfere with or impede, hinder, or
             182      diminish the efforts of an officer in the performance of the officer's duty.
             183          (24) "Nonresident" means a person who does not qualify as a resident.
             184          (25) "Open season" means the period of time during which protected wildlife may be
             185      legally taken.
             186          (26) "Pecuniary gain" means the acquisition of money or something of monetary value.
             187          (27) "Permit" means a document, including a stamp, which grants authority to engage
             188      in specified activities under this title or a rule or proclamation of the Wildlife Board.
             189          (28) "Person" means an individual, association, partnership, government agency,
             190      corporation, or an agent of the foregoing.
             191          (29) "Possession" means actual or constructive possession.
             192          (30) "Possession limit" means the number of bag limits one individual may legally
             193      possess.
             194          (31) (a) "Private fish installation" means a body of water where privately owned,
             195      protected aquatic wildlife are propagated or kept.
             196          (b) "Private fish installation" does not include any aquaculture facility or fee fishing
             197      facility.
             198          (32) "Private wildlife farm" means an enclosed place where privately owned birds or
             199      furbearers are propagated or kept and [which] that restricts the birds or furbearers from:
             200          (a) commingling with wild birds or furbearers; and
             201          (b) escaping into the wild.
             202          (33) "Proclamation" means the publication used to convey a statute, rule, policy, or
             203      pertinent information as it relates to wildlife.
             204          (34) (a) "Protected aquatic wildlife" means aquatic wildlife as defined in Subsection
             205      (3), except as provided in Subsection (34)(b).
             206          (b) "Protected aquatic wildlife" does not include aquatic insects.
             207          (35) (a) "Protected wildlife" means wildlife as defined in Subsection (49), except as
             208      provided in Subsection (35)(b).
             209          (b) "Protected wildlife" does not include coyote, field mouse, gopher, ground squirrel,
             210      jack rabbit, muskrat, and raccoon.
             211          (36) "Released to the wild" means to be turned loose from confinement.


             212          (37) (a) "Resident" means a person who:
             213          (i) has been domiciled in the state [of Utah] for six consecutive months immediately
             214      preceding the purchase of a license; and
             215          (ii) does not claim residency for hunting, fishing, or trapping in any other state or
             216      country.
             217          (b) A Utah resident retains Utah residency if that person leaves this state:
             218          (i) to serve in the armed forces of the United States or for religious or educational
             219      purposes; and
             220          (ii) complies with Subsection (37)(a)(ii).
             221          (c) (i) A member of the armed forces of the United States and dependents are residents
             222      for the purposes of this chapter as of the date the member reports for duty under assigned
             223      orders in the state if the member:
             224          (A) is not on temporary duty in this state; and
             225          (B) complies with Subsection (37)(a)(ii).
             226          (ii) A copy of the assignment orders must be presented to a wildlife division office to
             227      verify the member's qualification as a resident.
             228          (d) A nonresident attending an institution of higher learning in this state as a full-time
             229      student may qualify as a resident for purposes of this chapter if the student:
             230          (i) has been present in this state for 60 consecutive days immediately preceding the
             231      purchase of the license; and
             232          (ii) complies with Subsection (37)(a)(ii).
             233          (e) A Utah resident license is invalid if a resident license for hunting, fishing, or
             234      trapping is purchased in any other state or country.
             235          (f) An absentee landowner paying property tax on land in Utah does not qualify as a
             236      resident.
             237          (38) "Sell" means to offer or possess for sale, barter, exchange, or trade, or the act of
             238      selling, bartering, exchanging, or trading.
             239          (39) "Small game" means species of protected wildlife:
             240          (a) commonly pursued for sporting purposes; and
             241          (b) not classified as big game, aquatic wildlife, or furbearers and excluding turkey,
             242      cougar, and bear.


             243          (40) "Spoiled" means impairment of the flesh of wildlife which renders it unfit for
             244      human consumption.
             245          (41) "Spotlighting" means throwing or casting the rays of any spotlight, headlight, or
             246      other artificial light on any highway or in any field, woodland, or forest while having in
             247      possession a weapon by which protected wildlife may be killed.
             248          (42) "Tag" means a card, label, or other identification device issued for attachment to
             249      the carcass of protected wildlife.
             250          (43) "Take" means to:
             251          (a) hunt, pursue, harass, catch, capture, possess, angle, seine, trap, or kill any protected
             252      wildlife; or
             253          (b) attempt any action referred to in Subsection (43)(a).
             254          (44) "Threatened" means wildlife designated as such pursuant to Section 3 of the
             255      federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.
             256          (45) "Trapping" means taking protected wildlife with a trapping device.
             257          (46) "Trophy animal" means an animal described as follows:
             258          (a) deer - any buck with an outside antler measurement of 24 inches or greater;
             259          (b) elk - any bull with six points on at least one side;
             260          (c) bighorn, desert, or rocky mountain sheep - any ram with a curl exceeding half curl;
             261          (d) moose - any bull with at least one antler exceeding five inches in length;
             262          (e) mountain goat - any male or female;
             263          (f) pronghorn antelope - any buck with horns exceeding 14 inches; or
             264          (g) bison - any bull.
             265          (47) "Waste" means to abandon protected wildlife or to allow protected wildlife to
             266      spoil or to be used in a manner not normally associated with its beneficial use.
             267          (48) "Water pollution" means the introduction of matter or thermal energy to waters
             268      within this state which:
             269          (a) exceeds state water quality standards; or
             270          (b) could be harmful to protected wildlife.
             271          (49) "Wildlife" means:
             272          (a) crustaceans, including brine shrimp and crayfish;
             273          (b) mollusks; and


             274          (c) vertebrate animals living in nature, except feral animals.
             275          Section 2. Section 23-19-4 is amended to read:
             276           23-19-4. Alien's and nonresident peace officer's right to licenses and certificates.
             277          (1) An alien resident of the State of Utah may purchase hunting, fishing, trapping,
             278      seining, and fur dealer licenses and certificates of registration upon the same terms as a resident
             279      citizen.
             280          (2) All nonresident aliens may purchase hunting, fishing, trapping, seining, and fur
             281      dealer licenses and certificates of registration upon the same terms as nonresident citizens.
             282          (3) Notwithstanding Subsection 23-19-5 (1)(b), a nonresident may purchase a hunting,
             283      fishing, trapping, seining, and fur dealer license and certificate of registration upon the same
             284      terms as a resident citizen if the person is:
             285          (a) employed by the state as a peace officer, as classified by Title 53, Chapter 13, Peace
             286      Officer Classifications; and
             287          (b) required to live outside the state as a condition of the person's employment.
             288          Section 3. Section 23-19-5 is amended to read:
             289           23-19-5. Fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in obtaining a license, permit, tag, or
             290      certificate of registration unlawful -- Violation -- Penalty.
             291          (1) It is unlawful for:
             292          (a) any person to obtain or attempt to obtain a license, permit, tag, or certificate of
             293      registration by fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation[. It is unlawful for];
             294          (b) a nonresident to purchase a resident license[. It is unlawful for]; and
             295          (c) a resident to purchase a nonresident license.
             296          (2) Any license, permit, tag, or certificate of registration obtained in violation of
             297      Subsection (1) is invalid.
             298          (3) Any person violating [provisions of this section] Subsection (1) is guilty of a class
             299      B misdemeanor.
             300          (4) A fraudulent claim of residency in another state or country does not exempt a
             301      person from the definition of resident in Section 23-13-2 .
             302          Section 4. Section 23-19-9 is amended to read:
             303           23-19-9. Suspension of license or permit privileges -- Suspension of certificates of
             304      registration.


             305          (1) As used in this section, "license or permit privileges" means the privilege of
             306      applying for, purchasing, and exercising the benefits conferred by a license or permit issued by
             307      the division.
             308          (2) A hearing officer, appointed by the division, [shall] may suspend a person's
             309      [privilege of applying for, purchasing, and exercising the benefits conferred by one or more
             310      licenses or permits issued by the division] license or permit privileges if:
             311          (a) in a court of law, the person:
             312          (i) is convicted of:
             313          (A) violating this title or a rule of the Wildlife Board;
             314          (B) killing or injuring domestic livestock while engaged in an activity regulated under
             315      this title; or
             316          (C) violating Section 76-10-508 while engaged in an activity regulated under this title;
             317          (ii) enters into a plea in abeyance agreement, in which the person pleads guilty or no
             318      contest to an offense listed in Subsection (2)(a)(i), and the plea is held in abeyance; or
             319          (iii) is charged with committing an offense listed in Subsection (2)(a)(i), and the person
             320      enters into a diversion agreement which suspends the prosecution of the offense; and
             321          (b) the hearing officer determines the person committed the offense intentionally,
             322      knowingly, or recklessly, as defined in Section 76-2-103 .
             323          (3) (a) The Wildlife Board shall make rules establishing guidelines [for] that a hearing
             324      officer [to] shall consider in determining:
             325          (i) the type of license or permit privileges to suspend[.]; and
             326          (ii) the duration of the suspension.
             327          (b) The Wildlife Board shall ensure that the guidelines established under Subsection
             328      (3)(a) are consistent with Subsections (4), (5), and (6).
             329          (4) Except as provided in [Subsection] Subsections (5) and (6), a hearing officer [shall]
             330      may suspend a person's license or permit privileges [pursuant] according to Subsection (2) for
             331      [the following time periods] a period of time not to exceed:
             332          (a) seven years for:
             333          (i) a felony conviction;
             334          (ii) a plea of guilty or no contest to an offense punishable as a felony, which plea is
             335      held in abeyance pursuant to a plea in abeyance agreement; or


             336          (iii) being charged with an offense punishable as a felony, the prosecution of which is
             337      suspended pursuant to a diversion agreement;
             338          (b) five years for:
             339          (i) a class A misdemeanor conviction;
             340          (ii) a plea of guilty or no contest to an offense punishable as a class A misdemeanor,
             341      which plea is held in abeyance pursuant to a plea in abeyance agreement; or
             342          (iii) being charged with an offense punishable as a class A misdemeanor, the
             343      prosecution of which is suspended pursuant to a diversion agreement; [and]
             344          (c) three years for:
             345          (i) a class B misdemeanor conviction [under Section 23-20-4 ];
             346          (ii) a plea of guilty or no contest to an offense punishable as a class B misdemeanor
             347      [under Section 23-20-4 , which] when the plea is held in abeyance [pursuant] according to a
             348      plea in abeyance agreement; or
             349          (iii) being charged with an offense punishable as a class B misdemeanor [under Section
             350      23-20-4 ], the prosecution of which is suspended pursuant to a diversion agreement[.]; and
             351          [(5) Suspension periods as set forth in Subsection (4) shall be doubled for offenses:]
             352          (d) one year for:
             353          (i) a class C misdemeanor conviction;
             354          (ii) a plea of guilty or no contest to an offense punishable as a class C misdemeanor,
             355      when the plea is held in abeyance according to a plea in abeyance agreement; or
             356          (iii) being charged with an offense punishable as a class C misdemeanor, the
             357      prosecution of which is suspended according to a diversion agreement.
             358          (5) The hearing officer may double a suspension period established in Subsection (4)
             359      for offenses:
             360          (a) committed in violation of an existing suspension or revocation order issued by the
             361      courts, division, or Wildlife Board; or
             362          (b) involving the unlawful taking of a trophy animal, as defined in Section 23-13-2 .
             363          (6) (a) A hearing officer may suspend, [pursuant] according to Subsection (2), a
             364      person's [privilege to apply for, purchase, and exercise the benefits conferred by] license or
             365      permit privileges for a particular license or permit only once for each single criminal episode,
             366      as defined in Section 76-1-401 .


             367          (b) If a hearing officer addresses two or more single criminal episodes in a hearing, the
             368      suspension periods of any license or permit privileges of the same type suspended, [pursuant]
             369      according to Subsection (2), [shall] may run consecutively.
             370          (c) If a hearing officer suspends, [pursuant] according to Subsection (2), license or
             371      permit privileges of the type that have been previously suspended by a court, a hearing officer,
             372      or the Wildlife Board and the suspension period has not expired, the suspension periods [shall]
             373      may run consecutively.
             374          [(7) (a) A hearing officer, appointed by the division, shall suspend a person's privilege
             375      of applying for, purchasing, and exercising the benefits conferred by one or more licenses or
             376      permits issued by the division if:]
             377          [(i) within a five-year period, the person, on three or more occasions, in a court of law,
             378      is convicted or enters into a plea in abeyance agreement or diversion agreement as follows:]
             379          [(A) the person is convicted of an offense listed in Subsection (2)(a)(i) that is
             380      punishable as a class B or C misdemeanor;]
             381          [(B) the person enters into a plea in abeyance agreement in which the person pleads
             382      guilty or no contest to an offense listed in Subsection (2)(a)(i) that is punishable as a class B or
             383      C misdemeanor, and the plea is held in abeyance; or]
             384          [(C) the person is charged with an offense listed in Subsection (2)(a)(i) that is
             385      punishable as a class B or C misdemeanor, and the person enters into a diversion agreement,
             386      which suspends the prosecution of the offense;]
             387          [(ii) each conviction, plea in abeyance agreement, or diversion agreement listed in
             388      Subsection (7)(a)(i) originated from a separate single criminal episode; and]
             389          [(iii) a suspension or revocation order has not been previously issued as a result of any
             390      conviction, plea in abeyance agreement, or diversion agreement listed in Subsection (7)(a)(i).]
             391          [(b) An order of suspension may be issued, under this Subsection (7), on a strict
             392      liability basis.]
             393          [(c) A hearing officer shall suspend a person's license or permit privileges, pursuant to
             394      this Subsection (7), for a time period equal to the sum of the following:]
             395          [(i) one year for each:]
             396          [(A) class B misdemeanor conviction;]
             397          [(B) plea of guilty or no contest to an offense punishable as a class B misdemeanor,


             398      which plea is held in abeyance pursuant to a plea in abeyance agreement; or]
             399          [(C) charge of committing an offense punishable as a class B misdemeanor, the
             400      prosecution of which is suspended pursuant to a diversion agreement; and]
             401          [(ii) six months for each:]
             402          [(A) class C misdemeanor conviction;]
             403          [(B) plea of guilty or no contest to an offense punishable as a class C misdemeanor,
             404      which plea is held in abeyance pursuant to a plea in abeyance agreement; or]
             405          [(C) charge of committing an offense punishable as a class C misdemeanor, the
             406      prosecution of which is suspended pursuant to a diversion agreement.]
             407          [(8)] (7) (a) A hearing officer, appointed by the division, may suspend a person's
             408      privilege of applying for, purchasing, and exercising the benefits conferred by a certificate of
             409      registration if:
             410          (i) the hearing officer determines the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, as
             411      defined in Section 76-2-103 , violated:
             412          (A) this title;
             413          (B) a rule or order of the Wildlife Board;
             414          (C) the terms of a certificate of registration; or
             415          (D) the terms of a certificate of registration application or agreement; or
             416          (ii) the person, in a court of law:
             417          (A) is convicted of an offense that the hearing officer determines bears a reasonable
             418      relationship to the person's ability to safely and responsibly perform the activities authorized by
             419      the certificate of registration;
             420          (B) pleads guilty or no contest to an offense that the hearing officer determines bears a
             421      reasonable relationship to the person's ability to safely and responsibly perform the activities
             422      authorized by the certificate of registration, and the plea is held in abeyance in accordance with
             423      a plea in abeyance agreement; or
             424          (C) is charged with an offense that the hearing officer determines bears a reasonable
             425      relationship to the person's ability to safely and responsibly perform the activities authorized by
             426      the certificate of registration, and prosecution of the offense is suspended in accordance with a
             427      diversion agreement.
             428          (b) All certificates of registration for the harvesting of brine shrimp eggs, as defined in


             429      Section 59-23-3 , shall be suspended by a hearing officer, if the hearing officer determines the
             430      holder of the certificates of registration has violated Section 59-23-5 .
             431          [(c) Subsections (4), (5), and (6) do not apply to suspensions of certificates of
             432      registration.]
             433          [(9)] (8) (a) The director shall appoint a qualified person as a hearing officer to perform
             434      the adjudicative functions provided in this section.
             435          (b) The director may not appoint a division employee who investigates or enforces
             436      wildlife violations.
             437          [(10)] (9) (a) The courts may suspend, in criminal sentencing, a person's privilege to
             438      apply for, purchase, or exercise the benefits conferred by a license, permit, or certificate of
             439      registration.
             440          (b) The courts shall promptly notify the division of any suspension orders or
             441      recommendations entered.
             442          (c) The division, upon receiving notification of suspension from the courts, shall
             443      prohibit the person from applying for, purchasing, or exercising the benefits conferred by a
             444      license, permit, or certification of registration for the duration and of the type specified in the
             445      court order.
             446          (d) The hearing officer shall consider any recommendation made by a sentencing court
             447      concerning suspension before issuing a suspension order.
             448          [(11)] (10) (a) A person may not apply for, purchase, possess, or attempt to exercise the
             449      benefits conferred by any permit, license, or certificate of registration specified in an order of
             450      suspension while that order is in effect.
             451          (b) Any license possessed or obtained in violation of the order shall be considered
             452      invalid.
             453          [(b)] (c) A person who violates Subsection [(11)] (10)(a) is guilty of a class B
             454      misdemeanor.
             455          [(12)] (11) Before suspension under this section, a person must be:
             456          (a) given written notice of any action the division intends to take; and
             457          (b) provided with an opportunity for a hearing.
             458          [(13)] (12) (a) A person may file an appeal of a hearing officer's decision with the
             459      Wildlife Board.


             460          (b) The Wildlife Board shall review the hearing officer's findings and conclusions and
             461      any written documentation submitted at the hearing.
             462          (c) The Wildlife Board may:
             463          (i) take no action;
             464          (ii) vacate or remand the decision; or
             465          (iii) amend the period or type of suspension.
             466          [(14)] (13) The division shall suspend and reinstate all hunting, fishing, trapping, and
             467      falconry privileges consistent with Title 23, Chapter 25, Wildlife Violator Compact.
             468          [(15)] (14) The Wildlife Board may make rules to implement this section in accordance
             469      with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act[, and Title 63, Chapter 46b,
             470      Administrative Procedures Act].
             471          Section 5. Section 23-20-9 is amended to read:
             472           23-20-9. Donating protected wildlife.
             473          (1) A person may only donate protected wildlife or their parts to another person [only]
             474      at [the following places]:
             475          (a) the residence of the donor;
             476          (b) the residence of the person receiving protected wildlife or their parts;
             477          (c) a meat locker;
             478          (d) a storage plant; [or]
             479          (e) a meat processing facility[.]; or
             480          (f) a location authorized by the Wildlife Board in rule, proclamation, or order.
             481          (2) A written statement of donation must be kept with the protected wildlife or parts
             482      showing:
             483          (a) the number and species of protected wildlife or parts donated;
             484          (b) the date of donation;
             485          (c) the license or permit number of the donor; and
             486          (d) the signature of the donor.
             487          (3) Notwithstanding Subsections (1) and (2), a person may donate the hide of a big
             488      game animal to another person or organization at any place without a donation slip.
             489          Section 6. Section 41-22-2 is amended to read:
             490           41-22-2. Definitions.


             491          As used in this chapter:
             492          (1) "Advisory council" means the Off-highway Vehicle Advisory Council appointed by
             493      the Board of Parks and Recreation.
             494          (2) "All-terrain type I vehicle" means any motor vehicle [52] 50 inches or less in width,
             495      having an unladen dry weight of 800 pounds or less, traveling on three or more low pressure
             496      tires, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator, and designed for or capable of
             497      travel over unimproved terrain.
             498          (3) (a) "All-terrain type II vehicle" means any other motor vehicle, not defined in
             499      Subsection (2), (9), or (20), designed for or capable of travel over unimproved terrain. [This
             500      term]
             501          (b) "All-terrain type II vehicle" does not include golf carts, any vehicle designed to
             502      carry a disabled person, any vehicle not specifically designed for recreational use, or farm
             503      tractors as defined under Section 41-1a-102 .
             504          (4) "Board" means the Board of Parks and Recreation.
             505          (5) "Dealer" means a person engaged in the business of selling off-highway vehicles at
             506      wholesale or retail.
             507          (6) "Division" means the Division of Parks and Recreation.
             508          (7) "Low pressure tire" means any pneumatic tire six inches or more in width designed
             509      for use on wheels with rim diameter of 12 inches or less and utilizing an operating pressure of
             510      ten pounds per square inch or less as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
             511          (8) "Manufacturer" means a person engaged in the business of manufacturing
             512      off-highway vehicles.
             513          (9) "Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the operator
             514      and designed to travel on not more than two tires.
             515          (10) "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self-propelled.
             516          (11) "Off-highway vehicle" means any snowmobile, all-terrain type I vehicle,
             517      all-terrain type II vehicle, or motorcycle.
             518          (12) "Off-highway implement of husbandry" means every all-terrain type I vehicle,
             519      motorcycle, or snowmobile [which] that is used by the owner or his agent for agricultural
             520      operations.
             521          (13) "Operate" means to control the movement of or otherwise use an off-highway


             522      vehicle.
             523          (14) "Operator" means the person who is in actual physical control of an off-highway
             524      vehicle.
             525          (15) "Organized user group" means an off-highway vehicle organization incorporated
             526      as a nonprofit corporation in the state under Title 16, Chapter 6a, Utah Revised Nonprofit
             527      Corporation Act, for the purpose of promoting the interests of off-highway vehicle recreation.
             528          (16) "Owner" means a person, other than a person with a security interest, having a
             529      property interest or title to an off-highway vehicle and entitled to the use and possession of that
             530      vehicle.
             531          (17) "Public land" means land owned or administered by any federal or state agency or
             532      any political subdivision of the state.
             533          (18) "Register" means the act of assigning a registration number to an off-highway
             534      vehicle.
             535          (19) "Roadway" is used as defined in Section 41-6a-102 .
             536          (20) "Snowmobile" means any motor vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice and
             537      steered and supported in whole or in part by skis, belts, cleats, runners, or low pressure tires.
             538          (21) "Street or highway" means the entire width between boundary lines of every way
             539      or place of whatever nature, when any part of it is open to the use of the public for vehicular
             540      travel.
             541          Section 7. Section 41-22-12 is amended to read:
             542           41-22-12. Restrictions on use of public lands.
             543          (1) Except as provided in Section 63-11-17 , federal agencies are encouraged and
             544      agencies of the state and its subdivisions shall [refrain from closing any] pursue opportunities
             545      to open public land to responsible off-highway vehicle use.
             546          (2) A person may not operate and an owner of an off-highway vehicle may not give
             547      another person permission to operate an off-highway vehicle on any public land which is
             548      closed to off-highway vehicles.
             549          Section 8. Section 56-1-15 is amended to read:
             550           56-1-15. Fire caused by sparks emitted.
             551          In any action for damages [on account of] from a fire caused by sparks emitted from
             552      locomotive engines on a [steam railroad] rail line, proof that the fire occurred and was caused


             553      by sparks emitted from a locomotive engine operated by [such] the railroad [shall constitute] is
             554      prima facie evidence of negligence on the part of [such] the railroad.
             555          Section 9. Section 65A-1-4 is amended to read:
             556           65A-1-4. Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands -- Creation -- Power and
             557      authority.
             558          (1) (a) The Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is created within the Department
             559      of Natural Resources under the administration and general supervision of the executive director
             560      of the department.
             561          (b) The division is the executive authority for the management of sovereign lands, and
             562      the state's mineral estates on lands other than school and institutional trust lands, and shall
             563      provide for forestry and fire control activities as required in Section [ 65A-8-1 ] 65A-8-101 .
             564          (2) The division shall adopt rules under Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative
             565      Rulemaking Act, necessary to fulfill the purposes of this title.
             566          (3) The director of the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is the executive and
             567      administrative head of the division and shall be a person experienced in administration and
             568      management of natural resources.
             569          (4) The director shall inform the council:
             570          (a) in an annual meeting of the division's plans, policies, and budget; and
             571          (b) of policy changes and developing conflicts[, and].
             572          (5) The director shall give the council an opportunity to advise on the changes and
             573      conflicts.
             574          [(5)] (6) (a) An aggrieved party to a final action by the director may appeal that action
             575      to the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources within 20 days after the
             576      action.
             577          (b) The executive director shall rule on the director's action within 20 days after receipt
             578      of the appeal.
             579          Section 10. Section 65A-6-8 is amended to read:
             580           65A-6-8. Mineral leases -- Cancellation -- Use of surface land -- Liability for
             581      damage.
             582          (1) Upon violation by the lessee of any lawful provision in a mineral lease, the division
             583      may cancel the lease after 30 days' notice by registered or certified return receipt mail, unless


             584      the lessee:
             585          (a) remedies the violation[,];
             586          (b) rectifies the condition[,]; or
             587          (c) requests a hearing within:
             588          (i) the 30 days; or [within]
             589          (ii) any extension of time the [board] division grants.
             590          (2) (a) A mineral lessee, subject to conditions required by the division, shall have:
             591          (i) the right at all times to enter upon the leasehold for prospecting, exploring,
             592      developing, and producing minerals; and [shall have]
             593          (ii) reasonable use of the surface.
             594          (b) The lessee shall not injure, damage, or destroy the improvements of the surface
             595      owner or lessee.
             596          (c) The lessee is liable to the surface owner or lessee for all damage to the surface of
             597      the land and improvements, except for reasonable use.
             598          (3) Any mineral lessee may occupy as much of the surface of the leased land as may be
             599      required for all purposes reasonably incident to the exercise of lessee's rights under the lease
             600      by:
             601          (a) securing the written consent or waiver of the surface owner or lessee;
             602          (b) payment for the damage to the surface of the land and improvements to the surface
             603      owner or lessee where there is agreement as to the amount of the damage; or
             604          (c) upon the execution of a good and sufficient bond to the state for the use and benefit
             605      of the surface owner or lessee of the land to secure the payment of damages as may be
             606      determined and fixed by agreement or in action brought upon the bond or undertaking in a
             607      court of competent jurisdiction against the principal and sureties of the bond.
             608          (4) The bond required by Subsection (3)(c) shall be:
             609          (a) in a form and amount as prescribed by the division; and [shall be]
             610          (b) filed with the division.
             611          Section 11. Section 65A-8-101 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-1 is
             612      renumbered and amended to read:
             613     
Part 1. General Provisions

             614           [65A-8-1].     65A-8-101. Division responsibilities for fire control and the


             615      preservation of forest, watershed, and other lands -- Reciprocal agreements for fire
             616      protection.
             617          (1) The division shall determine and execute the best methods for protecting private
             618      and public property by:
             619          (a) preventing the origin and spread of fire on nonfederal forest, range, and watershed
             620      lands in unincorporated areas of the state;
             621          (b) protecting nonfederal forest and watershed areas on conservation principles; and
             622          (c) encouraging private landowners in preserving, protecting, and managing forest and
             623      other lands throughout the state.
             624          (2) The division shall take action it considers necessary to control wildland fires and
             625      protect life and property on the nonfederal forest, range, and watershed lands within
             626      unincorporated areas of the state.
             627          (3) The division may enter into agreements with public or private agencies, or
             628      individuals for the express purpose of protecting, managing, or rehabilitating those lands.
             629          (4) The division may enter into a reciprocal agreement with any fire protection
             630      organization, including federal agencies, to provide fire protection for land and improvements
             631      for which the organization normally provides fire protection.
             632          Section 12. Section 65A-8-102 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-2 is
             633      renumbered and amended to read:
             634           [65A-8-2].     65A-8-102. State forester.
             635          (1) There is created the position of state forester to carry out the provisions of this
             636      chapter.
             637          (2) The state forester shall be a graduate of an accredited school of forestry, technically
             638      and professionally competent, and experienced in administration.
             639          (3) The state forester shall be responsible to the director of the division.
             640          (4) In all matters pertaining to forestry and fire control in which the state recognizes a
             641      responsibility, the state forester shall be the official representative of the state.
             642          Section 13. Section 65A-8-103 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-3 is
             643      renumbered and amended to read:
             644           [65A-8-3].     65A-8-103. Forestry and fire control funds.
             645          [(1) All monies available to the division to meet the costs of Subsections (1)(a) through


             646      (d) are nonlapsing and available to the division until expended:]
             647          (1) The division shall use monies available to it to meet the costs of:
             648          (a) [monies for] controlling forest, range, and watershed fires;
             649          (b) [monies for] controlling insect and disease epidemics;
             650          (c) [monies for] rehabilitating or reforesting nonfederal forest, range, and watershed
             651      lands; and
             652          (d) [monies for] carrying on the purposes of [Title 65A, Chapter 8, Management of
             653      Forest Lands and Fire Control] this chapter.
             654          (2) All monies available to the division to meet the costs of Subsections (1)(a) through
             655      (d) are nonlapsing and available to the division until expended.
             656          [(2)] (3) (a) The collection and disbursement of all money made available to the
             657      division shall be in accordance with the rules of the Division of Finance.
             658          (b) Monies collected by the division from fees, rentals, sales, contributions,
             659      reimbursements, and other such sources shall be deposited in the appropriate account.
             660          Section 14. Section 65A-8-104 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-1.1 is
             661      renumbered and amended to read:
             662           [65A-8-1.1].     65A-8-104. Leaf-It-To-Us Children's Crusade for Trees
             663      program created -- Purpose -- Matching funds.
             664          (1) As used in this section, "program" means the Leaf-It-To-Us Children's Crusade for
             665      Trees program.
             666          (2) (a) The Leaf-It-To-Us Children's Crusade for Trees program is created within the
             667      division.
             668          (b) The purpose of the program is to provide matching funds for the planting of trees
             669      on public lands or alongside curbs.
             670          (3) (a) Any student group may submit an application to the division for funds available
             671      through the program.
             672          (b) To be eligible for the funds, the student group must provide an equal amount of
             673      money.
             674          (c) Both the program funds and the student group's funds shall be used to plant trees on
             675      public lands or alongside curbs.
             676          (4) The division shall make rules [for the administration of] to administer the program


             677      and place emphasis on post-planting care.
             678          Section 15. Section 65A-8-105 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-1.2 is
             679      renumbered and amended to read:
             680           [65A-8-1.2].     65A-8-105. Urban and community forestry program.
             681          (1) An urban and community forestry program is created within the division.
             682          (2) The purpose of the program is to encourage the planting and maintenance of trees
             683      within municipalities and unincorporated communities.
             684          (3) The division may:
             685          (a) advise and assist municipalities, counties, and other public and private entities in
             686      developing and coordinating policies, programs, and activities promoting urban and
             687      community forestry;
             688          (b) receive, by following the procedures and requirements of Title 63, Chapter 38e,
             689      Federal Funds Procedures, federal funds for the urban and community forestry program; and
             690          (c) provide grants to municipalities and counties for urban and community forestry
             691      programs and cooperative projects.
             692          (4) The division shall:
             693          (a) develop a public education program to inform tree care professionals and citizens of
             694      the hazards involved with the planting of new trees and the maintenance of existing trees near
             695      overhead power lines and highways; and
             696          (b) develop and implement a program of public awareness to inform citizens about the
             697      benefits of planting trees in urban areas and how to maintain trees.
             698          Section 16. Section 65A-8-201 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-4 is
             699      renumbered and amended to read:
             700     
Part 2. Fire Control

             701           [65A-8-4].     65A-8-201. Uncontrolled fire is a public nuisance.
             702          Any fire on forest, range, or watershed land in the state burning uncontrolled and
             703      without proper and adequate action being taken to control or prevent its spread is a public
             704      nuisance.
             705          Section 17. Section 65A-8-202 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-5 is
             706      renumbered and amended to read:
             707           [65A-8-5].     65A-8-202. Fire control -- County responsibilities.


             708          (1) Counties shall abate the public nuisance caused by uncontrolled fire on privately
             709      owned or county owned forest, range, and watershed lands.
             710          (2) Counties, or other political subdivisions of the state as determined to be appropriate
             711      by the state forester, may participate in the wildland fire protection system of the division and
             712      become eligible for assistance from the state by agreement under the provisions of this chapter.
             713          (3) The state forester shall make certain that appropriate action is taken to control
             714      wildland fires on nonfederal forest, range, and watershed lands.
             715          (4) The actual costs of suppression action taken by the division on privately owned
             716      lands shall be a charge against the county in which the lands lie, unless otherwise provided by
             717      cooperative agreement.
             718          Section 18. Section 65A-8-203 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-6 is
             719      renumbered and amended to read:
             720           [65A-8-6].     65A-8-203. Cooperative fire protection agreements with counties.
             721          (1) The county legislative body of any county may enter into a cooperative agreement
             722      with the division to receive financial and supervisory cooperation and assistance from the
             723      division.
             724          (2) A county may not receive cooperation or assistance under Subsection (1) until a
             725      cooperative agreement is executed by the county legislative body and the division.
             726          (3) In order to be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement with the division, the
             727      county shall:
             728          (a) adopt a wildland fire ordinance based upon minimum standards established by the
             729      division;
             730          (b) require that the county fire department or equivalent private provider under contract
             731      with the county meet minimum standards for wildland fire training, certification, and wildland
             732      fire suppression equipment based upon nationally accepted standards as specified by the
             733      division; and
             734          (c) file with the division a budget for fire suppression costs.
             735          (4) A county that chooses not to enter into a cooperative agreement with the division
             736      may not be eligible to receive financial assistance from the division.
             737          (5) The state forester may execute the agreements and may divide the state into fire
             738      protection districts.


             739          (6) These districts shall provide efficient and economical fire protection within the area
             740      defined.
             741          (7) The districts may comprise one or more counties, or portions of counties to be
             742      specified in the cooperative agreements.
             743          (8) Under the terms of the cooperative agreements, the state forester shall file annual
             744      budgets for operation of the cooperative districts with each participating county.
             745          (9) If the county approves a budget mutually acceptable to the county and the state
             746      forester, and budgets an amount for actual fire suppression costs determined to be normal by
             747      the state forester, the agreement shall commit the state to pay 1/2 of the actual suppression
             748      costs that exceed the stated normal costs.
             749          Section 19. Section 65A-8-204 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-6.1 is
             750      renumbered and amended to read:
             751           [65A-8-6.1].     65A-8-204. Wildland Fire Suppression Fund created.
             752          (1) There is created a private-purpose trust fund known as the "Wildland Fire
             753      Suppression Fund."
             754          (2) The fund shall be administered by the division to pay fire suppression and
             755      presuppression costs on eligible lands within unincorporated areas of counties.
             756          (3) The contents of the fund shall include:
             757          (a) payments by counties pursuant to written agreements made under Section
             758      [ 65A-8-6.2 ] 65A-8-205 ;
             759          (b) interest and earnings from the investment of fund monies; and
             760          (c) money appropriated by the Legislature.
             761          (4) Fund monies shall be invested by the state treasurer with the earnings and interest
             762      accruing to the fund.
             763          (5) (a) A maximum level of $8,000,000 is established for the fund.
             764          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b)(ii), if the amount of money in the fund
             765      equals or exceeds $8,000,000 on March 31, no assessments may be charged for the following
             766      year.
             767          (ii) The waiver of assessments provided in Subsection (5)(b)(i) does not apply to any
             768      equity payment required by Section [ 65A-8-6.2 ] 65A-8-205 .
             769          Section 20. Section 65A-8-205 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-6.2 is


             770      renumbered and amended to read:
             771           [65A-8-6.2].     65A-8-205. Agreements for coverage by the Wildland Fire
             772      Suppression Fund -- Eligible lands -- County and state obligations -- Termination --
             773      Revocation.
             774          (1) (a) A county legislative body may enter annually into a written agreement with the
             775      state forester to provide for payment from the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund of fire
             776      suppression costs incurred by the county in excess of the county's fire suppression budget.
             777          (b) Fire suppression costs on forest, range, and watershed lands within the
             778      unincorporated area of a county, except federal or state lands, are eligible for coverage by the
             779      Wildland Fire Suppression Fund.
             780          (2) (a) An agreement for payment of fire suppression costs from the Wildland Fire
             781      Suppression Fund shall provide that the county shall:
             782          (i) except as provided by Subsection (2)(b), pay into the fund an amount equal to:
             783          (A) .01 times the number of acres of privately- or county-owned land in the
             784      unincorporated area of the county; and
             785          (B) .0001151 times the taxable value of real property in the unincorporated area of the
             786      county; and
             787          (ii) budget an amount for fire suppression costs determined to be normal by the state
             788      forester in accordance with the formula specified by rule.
             789          (b) A county is not required to pay for an acre or real property described in Subsection
             790      (2)(a)(i) if the acre or real property:
             791          (i) is subject to concentrated residential, commercial, or industrial development;
             792          (ii) would not be exposed to wildland fire; and
             793          (iii) would not expose any wildland to fire spreading from it.
             794          (3) (a) Any county that elects to initiate participation in the fund, or reestablish
             795      participation in the fund after participation was terminated, shall make an equity payment, in
             796      addition to the assessment provided in Subsection (2)(a)(i).
             797          (b) The equity payment shall represent what the county's equity in the fund would be if
             798      the county had made assessments into the fund for each of the previous three years.
             799          (c) The equity payment shall be determined by the state forester in accordance with
             800      division rules.


             801          (4) The agreement shall provide that:
             802          (a) the state shall pay into the fund an amount equal to the county's payment, including
             803      any equity payment required under Subsection (3); and
             804          (b) if monies in the fund are insufficient to pay for all eligible fire suppression costs,
             805      the state shall pay for 1/2 of the county's remaining costs.
             806          (5) The agreement shall provide for revocation of the agreement for failure to pay
             807      assessments when due.
             808          (6) Any county that elects to withdraw from participation in the fund, or whose
             809      participation in the fund is revoked due to failure to pay its assessments when due, shall forfeit
             810      any right to any previously paid assessments by the county.
             811          Section 21. Section 65A-8-206 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-6.3 is
             812      renumbered and amended to read:
             813           [65A-8-6.3].     65A-8-206. Disbursements from the Wildland Fire
             814      Suppression Fund.
             815          (1) Disbursements from the fund shall be made only upon written order of the state
             816      forester or his authorized representative.
             817          (2) If the state forester determines monies in the fund may be insufficient to cover
             818      eligible costs in a program year, the state forester may delay making disbursements from the
             819      fund until the close of the program year, at which time available monies shall be prorated
             820      among those entitled to payments at less than 100%.
             821          Section 22. Section 65A-8-207 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-6.4 is
             822      renumbered and amended to read:
             823           [65A-8-6.4].     65A-8-207. Division to administer Wildland Fire
             824      Suppression Fund -- Rulemaking -- Procedures.
             825          (1) By following the procedures and requirements of Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
             826      Administrative Rulemaking Act, the division shall make rules to administer the Wildland Fire
             827      Suppression Fund, including rules:
             828          (a) requiring documentation for:
             829          (i) the number of acres of privately[-] or county-owned land in the unincorporated area
             830      of a participating county; and
             831          (ii) an acre or real property exempt in Subsection [ 65A-8-6.2 ] 65A-8-205 (2)(b);


             832          (b) describing the method or formula for determining:
             833          (i) normal fire suppression costs; and
             834          (ii) equity payments required by Section [ 65A-8-6.2 ] 65A-8-205 ; and
             835          (c) specifying fire suppression and presuppression costs that may be paid with
             836      disbursements from the fund.
             837          (2) By following the procedures and requirements of Title 63, Chapter 46b,
             838      Administrative Procedures Act, the division shall determine whether an acre or real property is
             839      eligible for the exemption provided in Subsection [ 65A-8-6.2 ] 65A-8-205 (2)(b).
             840          Section 23. Section 65A-8-208 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-6.5 is
             841      renumbered and amended to read:
             842           [65A-8-6.5].     65A-8-208. Presuppression costs -- Disbursements from fund
             843      -- Credit against assessment -- Limited by appropriation.
             844          (1) The state forester or the state forester's authorized representative may make
             845      disbursements from the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund to pay for costs of presuppression and
             846      fire management activities initiated by counties participating in the fund, subject to the
             847      limitations specified in this section.
             848          (2) Payments to a county for costs of presuppression and fire management activities in
             849      any year may not exceed the county's assessment under Subsection [ 65A-8-6.2 ]
             850      65A-8-205 (2)(a).
             851          (3) (a) In lieu of making a disbursement from the fund for a county's costs of
             852      presuppression and fire management activities, the county may be given a credit against its
             853      assessment under Subsection [ 65A-8-6.2 ] 65A-8-205 (2)(a) equal to those costs.
             854          (b) The credit may not exceed the county's assessment under Subsection [ 65A-8-6.2 ]
             855      65A-8-205 (2)(a).
             856          (4) The total amount of money in the fund that may be allocated to cover costs of
             857      presuppression and fire management activities initiated by counties may not exceed the
             858      legislative appropriation to the fund for those costs.
             859          Section 24. Section 65A-8-209 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-7 is
             860      renumbered and amended to read:
             861           [65A-8-7].     65A-8-209. Responsibilities of county sheriffs and district fire
             862      wardens in controlling fires.


             863          (1) In those counties not directly participating in the state wildland fire protection
             864      organization by cooperative agreement as provided in this chapter, the county sheriff shall take
             865      appropriate action to suppress uncontrolled fires on state or private lands.
             866          (2) In all cases the sheriff shall:
             867          (a) report, as prescribed by the state forester, on wildland fire control action;
             868          (b) investigate and report fire causes; and
             869          (c) enforce the provisions of this chapter either independently or in cooperation with
             870      the state forester.
             871          (3) In those counties participating in the state wildland fire protection organization by
             872      cooperative agreement, the primary responsibility for fire control is delegated to the district fire
             873      warden, who is designated by the state forester.
             874          (4) The county sheriff and his organization shall maintain cooperative support of the
             875      fire control organization.
             876          Section 25. Section 65A-8-210 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-8 is
             877      renumbered and amended to read:
             878           [65A-8-8].     65A-8-210. Fire control on state-owned lands -- Responsibilities of
             879      state agencies.
             880          (1) The division shall abate the public nuisance caused by uncontrolled fire on
             881      state-owned forest, range, and watershed lands.
             882          (2) (a) State agencies responsible for the administration of state-owned lands shall
             883      recognize the need for providing wildland fire protection and the responsibility for sharing the
             884      costs.
             885          (b) Those agencies shall annually allocate funds to the division in amounts as are
             886      determined to be fair and equitable proportionate costs for providing a basic level of fire
             887      protection.
             888          (c) The amount of protection costs shall be negotiated by the respective land agencies
             889      and the division.
             890          Section 26. Section 65A-8-211 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-9 is
             891      renumbered and amended to read:
             892           [65A-8-9].     65A-8-211. Closed fire season -- Notice -- Violations -- Burning
             893      permits -- Personal liability -- Exemptions from burning permits.


             894          (1) (a) The period from June 1 to October 31 of each year is a closed fire season
             895      throughout the state.
             896          (b) The state forester may advance or extend the closed season wherever and whenever
             897      that action is necessary.
             898          (c) The alteration of the closed season [shall be] is done by posting the appropriate
             899      proclamation in the courthouse of each county seat for at least seven days in advance of the
             900      date the change is effective.
             901          (2) During the closed season it is a class B misdemeanor to set on fire, or cause to be
             902      set on fire, any [inflammable] flammable material on any forest, brush, range, grass, grain,
             903      stubble, or hay land without:
             904          (a) first securing a written permit from the state forester or a designated deputy; and
             905          (b) complying fully with the terms and conditions prescribed by the permit.
             906          (3) [It is the duty of the] The district fire warden appointed by the state forester[,] or
             907      the county sheriff in nonparticipating counties[, to] shall issue burning permits using the form
             908      prescribed by the division.
             909          (4) (a) The burning permit does not relieve an individual from personal liability due to
             910      neglect or incompetence.
             911          (b) [If a] A fire [escapes] escaping control of the permittee [and] that necessitates fire
             912      control action or does injury to the property of another[, this may be held] is prima facie
             913      evidence that the fire was not safe.
             914          (5) The state forester, his deputies, and the county sheriffs may refuse, revoke,
             915      postpone, or cancel permits when they find it necessary in the interest of public safety.
             916          (6) (a) A burning permit is not required for the burning of fence lines on cultivated
             917      lands, canals, or irrigation ditches if:
             918          (i) the burning does not pose a threat to forest, range, or watershed lands;
             919          (ii) due care is used in the control of the burning; and
             920          (iii) the individual notifies the nearest fire department of the approximate time the
             921      burning will occur.
             922          (b) Failure to notify the nearest fire department of the burning as required by this
             923      section is a class B misdemeanor.
             924          (7) A burning conducted in accordance with Subsection (6) is not a reckless burning


             925      under Section 76-6-104 unless the fire escapes control and requires fire control action.
             926          Section 27. Section 65A-8-212 , which is renumbered from Section 65A-8-10 is
             927      renumbered and amended to read:
             928           [65A-8-10].     65A-8-212. Power of state forester to close hazardous areas --
             929      Violations of an order closing an area.
             930          (1) (a) If the state forester finds conditions in a given area in the state to be extremely
             931      hazardous, he shall close those areas to any forms of use by the public, or to limit that use.
             932          (b) The closure shall include the prohibition of open fires for the period of time he
             933      finds necessary.
             934          (2) Nothing in this chapter prohibits any resident within the area from full and free
             935      access to his home or property, or any legitimate use by the owner or lessee of the property.
             936          (3) The order or proclamation closing or limiting the use in the area shall set forth:
             937          (a) the exact area coming under the order;
             938          (b) the date when the order becomes effective; and
             939          (c) if advisable, the authority from whom permits for entry into the area may be
             940      obtained.
             941          (4) Any entry into or use of any area in violation of this section is a class B
             942      misdemeanor.
             943          Section 28. Section 65A-8-301 , which is renumbered from Section 63-11-57 is
             944      renumbered and amended to read:
             945     
Part 3. Heritage Trees

             946           [63-11-57].     65A-8-301. Legislative finding and purpose.
             947          (1) The Legislature finds the health and welfare of the people of the state require the
             948      preservation of certain rare, or threatened, or vanishing species of trees to preserve the state's
             949      scenic beauty and preserve its historic past as it relates to such trees.
             950          (2) It is the intent of this [act] part to retain as many heritage trees as possible
             951      consistent with the reasonable and economic enjoyment of private property.
             952          Section 29. Section 65A-8-302 , which is renumbered from Section 63-11-58 is
             953      renumbered and amended to read:
             954           [63-11-58].     65A-8-302. Definitions.
             955          As used in this [act] part:


             956          (1) "Alter" means to change the configuration of a heritage tree by pruning, trimming,
             957      topping, cutting, or by any other means.
             958          (2) "Committee" means the Heritage Trees Advisory Committee.
             959          (3) "Division" means the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
             960          (4) "Heritage tree" means any tree or group of trees designated as such by the division,
             961      in accordance with the following criteria:
             962          (a) any live tree or group of trees indigenous to the state, or which has adapted
             963      exceptionally well to the climatic conditions of the state, or is one of a kind;
             964          (b) any tree or group of trees that has exceptional national, state, or local historic
             965      significance;
             966          (c) any tree or group of trees which has an exceptional size or exceptional form for its
             967      species;
             968          (d) any tree or group of trees which has an exceptional age for its species; or
             969          (e) any tree or group of trees in the state which is the sole representative of its species.
             970          (5) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, or association.
             971          Section 30. Section 65A-8-303 , which is renumbered from Section 63-11-59 is
             972      renumbered and amended to read:
             973           [63-11-59].     65A-8-303. Application to alter or remove trees.
             974          (1) Any person that desires to alter or remove one or more heritage trees from any
             975      public property within this state shall before altering or removing any such tree make
             976      application to the division on forms prescribed by it.
             977          (2) An application for alteration or removal shall be filed with the division at least 60
             978      days before the actual alteration or removal of any such trees.
             979          (3) The application shall state:
             980          (a) the name of the applicant[,];
             981          (b) the number, location, and species of the trees proposed to be altered or removed[,];
             982          (c) the reason for alteration or removal[,]; and [such]
             983          (d) other information as the division may reasonably require.
             984          Section 31. Section 65A-8-304 , which is renumbered from Section 63-11-60 is
             985      renumbered and amended to read:
             986           [63-11-60].     65A-8-304. Guidelines and standards for granting or denying


             987      applications to alter or remove trees.
             988          (1) The committee shall develop published guidelines and standards to be used by the
             989      board in granting or denying applications for the alteration or removal of heritage trees.
             990          (2) In addition to the guidelines and standards developed by the committee, the
             991      division shall consider the following criteria in granting or denying an application:
             992          [(1)] (a) the physical condition of the heritage tree or trees with respect to:
             993          (i) insect infestation[,];
             994          (ii) disease[,];
             995          (iii) danger of falling[,];
             996          (iv) proximity to existing or proposed structures; and
             997          (v) interference with utility services;
             998          [(2)] (b) the necessity of alteration or removal of the heritage tree or trees in order to
             999      construct proposed improvements and allow economic enjoyment of property;
             1000          [(3)] (c) the topography of the land and the effect of removal of the heritage tree or
             1001      trees on:
             1002          (i) erosion[,];
             1003          (ii) soil retention; and
             1004          (iii) the diversion or increased flow of surface waters resultant upon alteration or
             1005      removal;
             1006          [(4)] (d) the number of heritage trees existing in the neighborhood on improved
             1007      property [and];
             1008          (e) the effect alteration or removal would have on established standards and property
             1009      values in the area; and
             1010          [(5)] (f) the number of heritage trees the particular parcel can support according to
             1011      good forestry practices.
             1012          Section 32. Section 65A-8-305 , which is renumbered from Section 63-11-60.3 is
             1013      renumbered and amended to read:
             1014           [63-11-60.3].     65A-8-305. Powers of division.
             1015          The division may:
             1016          (1) grant or deny applications for designation of heritage trees from individuals, local
             1017      shade tree commissions, or local governments;


             1018          (2) grant or deny applications for alteration or removal of heritage trees;
             1019          (3) acquire land if one or more heritage trees are located on the land;
             1020          (4) accept gifts, bequests, or donations; and
             1021          (5) determine policies necessary to carry out this [act] part.
             1022          Section 33. Section 65A-8-306 , which is renumbered from Section 63-11-60.4 is
             1023      renumbered and amended to read:
             1024           [63-11-60.4].     65A-8-306. Heritage trees advisory committee -- Members --
             1025      Officers -- Expenses -- Functions.
             1026          (1) There is created a Heritage Trees Advisory Committee composed of five persons
             1027      appointed by the division from among persons who are members of the Utah [Association of
             1028      Shade Tree Commissions] Community Forestry Council.
             1029          (2) (a) Except as required by Subsection (2)(b), as terms of current committee members
             1030      expire, the division shall appoint each new member or reappointed member to a four-year term.
             1031          (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (2)(a), the division shall, at the
             1032      time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of
             1033      committee members are staggered so that approximately half of the committee is appointed
             1034      every two years.
             1035          [(c) No two members shall be appointed from the same city.]
             1036          (3) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
             1037      appointed for the unexpired term.
             1038          (4) (a) The committee shall elect a chair who is responsible to call and conduct
             1039      meetings.
             1040          (b) Three members present at a duly called meeting constitute a quorum for the
             1041      transaction of official business.
             1042          (c) Members of the committee may meet as often as considered necessary.
             1043          (d) The urban forestry staff person of the division shall serve as secretary to the
             1044      committee.
             1045          (5) (a) Members shall receive no compensation or benefits for their services, but may
             1046      receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at
             1047      the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
             1048          (b) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.


             1049          (6) The committee shall:
             1050          (a) publish guidelines for division use in granting or denying applications for the
             1051      designation of heritage trees;
             1052          (b) publish an annual register of designated heritage trees and distribute it to public
             1053      utilities, tree service companies, municipal forestry and parks departments, and the public; and
             1054          (c) develop a system for visibly identifying designated heritage trees.
             1055          Section 34. Section 65A-8-307 , which is renumbered from Section 63-11-61 is
             1056      renumbered and amended to read:
             1057           [63-11-61].     65A-8-307. Exemption for emergency or permit.
             1058          This [act] part shall not apply to any emergency when heritage trees constitute a danger
             1059      to life or property, or to any person whose application for alteration or removal of a heritage
             1060      tree has been granted by the division.
             1061          Section 35. Section 65A-8-308 , which is renumbered from Section 63-11-64 is
             1062      renumbered and amended to read:
             1063           [63-11-64].     65A-8-308. Enforcement -- Prosecution of violations.
             1064          (1) County sheriffs, police, and other law enforcement officers within their respective
             1065      jurisdictions are responsible for the enforcement of this [act] part.
             1066          (2) The county attorney or district attorney shall prosecute any violation of this [act]
             1067      part.
             1068          Section 36. Section 65A-8-309 , which is renumbered from Section 63-11-65 is
             1069      renumbered and amended to read:
             1070           [63-11-65].     65A-8-309. Injury -- Violation of part -- Misdemeanor.
             1071          Any person who willfully or maliciously alters, injures, damages, or causes death of a
             1072      heritage tree or who otherwise violates this [act] part is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
             1073          Section 37. Section 73-1-4 is amended to read:
             1074           73-1-4. Reversion to the public by abandonment or forfeiture for nonuse within
             1075      five years -- Extension of time.
             1076          (1) (a) In order to further the state policy of securing the maximum use and benefit of
             1077      its scarce water resources, a person entitled to the use of water has a continuing obligation to
             1078      place all of a water right to beneficial use.
             1079          (b) The forfeiture of all or part of any right to use water for failure to place all or part of


             1080      the water to beneficial use makes possible the allocation and use of water consistent with long
             1081      established beneficial use concepts.
             1082          (c) The provisions of Subsections (2) through (6) shall be construed to carry out the
             1083      purposes and policies set forth in this Subsection (1).
             1084          (2) As used in this section, "public water supply entity" means an entity that supplies
             1085      water as a utility service or for irrigation purposes and is also:
             1086          (a) a municipality, water conservancy district, metropolitan water district, irrigation
             1087      district created under Section 17A-2-701.5 , or other public agency;
             1088          (b) a water company regulated by the Public Service Commission; or
             1089          (c) any other owner of a community water system.
             1090          (3) (a) When an appropriator or the appropriator's successor in interest abandons or
             1091      ceases to use all or a portion of a water right for a period of five years, the water right or the
             1092      unused portion of that water right ceases and the water reverts to the public, unless, before the
             1093      expiration of the five-year period, the appropriator or the appropriator's successor in interest
             1094      files a verified nonuse application with the state engineer.
             1095          (b) (i) A nonuse application may be filed on all or a portion of the water right,
             1096      including water rights held by mutual irrigation companies.
             1097          (ii) Public water supply entities that own stock in a mutual water company, after giving
             1098      written notice to the water company, may file nonuse applications with the state engineer on
             1099      the water represented by the stock.
             1100          (c) (i) A water right or a portion of the water right may not be forfeited unless a judicial
             1101      action to declare the right forfeited is commenced within 15 years from the end of the latest
             1102      period of nonuse of at least five years.
             1103          (ii) If forfeiture is asserted in an action for general determination of rights in
             1104      conformance with the provisions of Chapter 4, Determination of Water Rights, the 15-year
             1105      limitation period shall commence to run back in time from the date the state engineer's
             1106      proposed determination of rights is served upon each claimant.
             1107          (iii) A decree entered in an action for general determination of rights under Chapter 4,
             1108      Determination of Water Rights, shall bar any claim of forfeiture for prior nonuse against any
             1109      right determined to be valid in the decree, but shall not bar a claim for periods of nonuse that
             1110      occur after the entry of the decree.


             1111          (iv) A proposed determination by the state engineer in an action for general
             1112      determination of rights under Chapter 4, Determination of Water Rights, shall bar any claim of
             1113      forfeiture for prior nonuse against any right proposed to be valid, unless a timely objection has
             1114      been filed within the time allowed in Chapter 4, Determination of Water Rights.
             1115          (d) The extension of time to resume the use of that water may not exceed five years
             1116      unless the time is further extended by the state engineer.
             1117          (e) The provisions of this section are applicable whether the unused or abandoned
             1118      water or a portion of the water is permitted to run to waste or is used by others without right
             1119      with the knowledge of the water right holder, provided that the use of water pursuant to a lease
             1120      or other agreement with the appropriator or the appropriator's successor shall be considered to
             1121      constitute beneficial use.
             1122          (f) The provisions of this section shall not apply:
             1123          (i) to those periods of time when a surface water source fails to yield sufficient water to
             1124      satisfy the water right, or when groundwater is not available because of a sustained drought;
             1125          (ii) to water stored in reservoirs pursuant to an existing water right, where the stored
             1126      water is being held in storage for present or future use; or
             1127          (iii) when a water user has beneficially used substantially all of a water right within a
             1128      five-year period, provided that this exemption shall not apply to the adjudication of a water
             1129      right in a general determination of water rights under Chapter 4, Determination of Water
             1130      Rights.
             1131          (g) Groundwater rights used to supplement the quantity or quality of other water
             1132      supplies may not be subject to loss or reduction under this section if not used during periods
             1133      when the other water source delivers sufficient water so as to not require use of the
             1134      supplemental groundwater.
             1135          (4) (a) The state engineer shall furnish an application requiring the following
             1136      information:
             1137          (i) the name and address of the applicant;
             1138          (ii) a description of the water right or a portion of the water right, including the point of
             1139      diversion, place of use, and priority;
             1140          (iii) the date the water was last diverted and placed to beneficial use;
             1141          (iv) the quantity of water;


             1142          (v) the period of use;
             1143          (vi) the extension of time applied for;
             1144          (vii) a statement of the reason for the nonuse of the water; and
             1145          (viii) any other information that the state engineer requires.
             1146          (b) Filing the application extends the time during which nonuse may continue until the
             1147      state engineer issues his order on the nonuse application.
             1148          (c) (i) Upon receipt of the application, the state engineer shall publish a notice of the
             1149      application once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the
             1150      county in which the source of the water supply is located and where the water is to be used.
             1151          (ii) The notice shall:
             1152          (A) state that an application has been made; and
             1153          (B) specify where the interested party may obtain additional information relating to the
             1154      application.
             1155          (d) Any interested person may file a written protest with the state engineer against the
             1156      granting of the application:
             1157          (i) within 20 days after the notice is published, if the adjudicative proceeding is
             1158      informal; and
             1159          (ii) within 30 days after the notice is published, if the adjudicative proceeding is
             1160      formal.
             1161          (e) In any proceedings to determine whether the application for extension should be
             1162      approved or rejected, the state engineer shall follow the procedures and requirements of Title
             1163      63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act.
             1164          (f) After further investigation, the state engineer may approve or reject the application.
             1165          (5) (a) Nonuse applications on all or a portion of a water right shall be granted by the
             1166      state engineer for periods not exceeding five years each, upon a showing of reasonable cause
             1167      for nonuse.
             1168          (b) Reasonable causes for nonuse include:
             1169          (i) demonstrable financial hardship or economic depression;
             1170          (ii) the initiation of recognized water conservation or efficiency practices, or the
             1171      operation of a groundwater recharge recovery program approved by the state engineer;
             1172          (iii) operation of legal proceedings;


             1173          (iv) the holding of a water right or stock in a mutual water company without use by any
             1174      public water supply entity to meet the reasonable future requirements of the public;
             1175          (v) situations where, in the opinion of the state engineer, the nonuse would assist in
             1176      implementing an existing, approved water management plan;
             1177          (vi) situations where all or part of the land on which water is used is contracted under
             1178      an approved state agreement or federal conservation fallowing program;
             1179          (vii) the loss of capacity caused by deterioration of the water supply or delivery
             1180      equipment if the applicant submits, with the application, a specific plan to resume full use of
             1181      the water right by replacing, restoring, or improving the equipment; or
             1182          (viii) any other reasonable cause.
             1183          (6) (a) Sixty days before the expiration of any extension of time, the state engineer
             1184      shall notify the applicant by [registered] mail or by any form of electronic communication
             1185      through which receipt is verifiable, of the date when the extension period will expire.
             1186          (b) Before the date of expiration, the applicant shall either:
             1187          (i) file a verified statement with the state engineer setting forth the date on which use of
             1188      the water was resumed, and whatever additional information is required by the state engineer;
             1189      or
             1190          (ii) apply for a further extension of time in which to resume use of the water according
             1191      to the procedures and requirements of this section.
             1192          (c) Upon receipt of the applicant's properly completed, verified statement, the state
             1193      engineer shall conduct investigations necessary to verify that beneficial use has resumed and, if
             1194      so, shall issue a certificate of resumption of use of the water as evidenced by the resumed
             1195      beneficial use.
             1196          (7) The appropriator's water right or a portion of the water right ceases and the water
             1197      reverts to the public if the:
             1198          (a) appropriator or the appropriator's successor in interest fails to apply for an
             1199      extension of time;
             1200          (b) state engineer denies the nonuse application; or
             1201          (c) appropriator or the appropriator's successor in interest fails to apply for a further
             1202      extension of time.
             1203          Section 38. Section 73-2-4 is amended to read:


             1204           73-2-4. Deputy and assistants -- Employment and salaries -- Purchase of
             1205      equipment and supplies.
             1206          For the purpose of performing the duties of his office the state engineer may [appoint a
             1207      chief]:
             1208          (1) employ a deputy[, employ] and all necessary assistants[,];
             1209          (2) fix [their] division employee's salaries in accordance with salary standards adopted
             1210      by the Department of Finance; and
             1211          (3) purchase all necessary equipment and supplies.
             1212          Section 39. Section 73-2-25 is amended to read:
             1213           73-2-25. State engineer enforcement powers.
             1214          (1) For purposes of this section, "initial order" means one of the following issued by
             1215      the state engineer:
             1216          (a) a notice of violation; or
             1217          (b) a cease and desist order.
             1218          (2) (a) The state engineer may commence an enforcement action under this section if
             1219      the state engineer finds that a person:
             1220          (i) is diverting, impounding, or using water for which no water right has been
             1221      established;
             1222          (ii) is diverting, impounding, or using water in violation of an existing water right;
             1223          (iii) violates Section 73-5-4 ;
             1224          (iv) violates Section 73-5-9 ;
             1225          (v) violates a written distribution order from the state engineer;
             1226          (vi) violates an order issued under Section 73-3-29 regarding the alteration of the bed
             1227      or bank of a natural stream channel; or
             1228          (vii) violates a notice or order regarding dam safety issued under Chapter 5a, Dam
             1229      Safety.
             1230          (b) To commence an enforcement action under this section, the state engineer shall
             1231      issue an initial order, which shall include:
             1232          (i) a description of the violation;
             1233          (ii) notice of any penalties to which a person may be subject under Section 73-2-26 ;
             1234      and


             1235          (iii) notice that the state engineer may treat each day's violation of the provisions listed
             1236      in Subsection (2)(a) as a separate violation under Subsection 73-2-26 (1)(d).
             1237          (c) The state engineer's issuance and enforcement of an initial order is exempt from
             1238      Title 63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act.
             1239          (3) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             1240      state engineer shall make rules necessary to enforce an initial order, which shall include:
             1241          (a) provisions consistent with this section and Section 73-2-26 for enforcement of the
             1242      initial order if a person to whom an initial order is issued fails to respond to the order or abate
             1243      the violation;
             1244          (b) the right to a hearing, upon request by a person against whom an initial order is
             1245      issued; and
             1246          (c) provisions for timely issuance of a final order after:
             1247          (i) the person to whom the initial order is issued fails to respond to the order or abate
             1248      the violation; or
             1249          (ii) a hearing held under Subsection (3)(b).
             1250          (4) A person may not intervene in an enforcement action commenced under this
             1251      section.
             1252          (5) After issuance of a final order under rules made pursuant to Subsection (3)(c), the
             1253      state engineer shall serve a copy of the final order on the person against whom the order is
             1254      issued by:
             1255          (a) personal service under Utah Rules of Civil Procedure 5; or
             1256          (b) certified mail.
             1257          (6) (a) The state engineer's final order may be reviewed by trial de novo by the district
             1258      court in:
             1259          (i) Salt Lake County; or
             1260          (ii) the county where the violation occurred.
             1261          (b) A person shall file a petition for judicial review of the state engineer's final order
             1262      issued under this section within 20 days from the day on which the final order was served on
             1263      that person.
             1264          (7) The state engineer may bring suit in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce a
             1265      final order issued under this section.


             1266          (8) If the state engineer prevails in an action brought under Subsection (6)(b) or (7), the
             1267      state may recover all court costs and a reasonable attorney fee.
             1268          Section 40. Section 73-3-8 is amended to read:
             1269           73-3-8. Approval or rejection of application -- Requirements for approval --
             1270      Application for specified period of time -- Filing of royalty contract for removal of salt or
             1271      minerals.
             1272          (1) (a) It shall be the duty of the state engineer to approve an application if: [(a)]
             1273          (i) there is unappropriated water in the proposed source; [(b)]
             1274          (ii) the proposed use will not impair existing rights or interfere with the more
             1275      beneficial use of the water; [(c)]
             1276          (iii) the proposed plan is physically and economically feasible, unless the application is
             1277      filed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, and would not prove detrimental to the
             1278      public welfare; [(d)]
             1279          (iv) the applicant has the financial ability to complete the proposed works; and [(e)]
             1280          (v) the application was filed in good faith and not for purposes of speculation or
             1281      monopoly.
             1282          (b) (i) If the state engineer, because of information in [his] the state engineer's
             1283      possession obtained either by [his] the state engineer's own investigation or otherwise, has
             1284      reason to believe that an application to appropriate water will interfere with its more beneficial
             1285      use for irrigation, domestic or culinary, stock watering, power or mining development, or
             1286      manufacturing, or will unreasonably affect public recreation or the natural stream environment,
             1287      or will prove detrimental to the public welfare, it is [his] the state engineer's duty to withhold
             1288      [his] approval or rejection of the application until [he] the state engineer has investigated the
             1289      matter.
             1290          (ii) If an application does not meet the requirements of this section, it shall be rejected.
             1291          (2) (a) An application to appropriate water for industrial, power, mining development,
             1292      manufacturing purposes, agriculture, or municipal purposes may be approved for a specific and
             1293      certain period from the time the water is placed to beneficial use under the application, but in
             1294      no event may an application be granted for a period of time less than that ordinarily needed to
             1295      satisfy the essential and primary purpose of the application or until the water is no longer
             1296      available as determined by the state engineer.


             1297          (b) At the expiration of the period fixed by the state engineer the water shall revert to
             1298      the public and is subject to appropriation as provided by [Title 73. The] this title.
             1299          (c) No later than 60 calendar days before the expiration date of the fixed time period,
             1300      the state engineer shall send notice by mail or by any form of electronic communication
             1301      through which receipt is verifiable, to the applicant of record.
             1302          (d) Except as provided by Subsection (2)(e), the state engineer may extend any limited
             1303      water right upon a showing that:
             1304          (i) the essential purpose of the original application has not been satisfied[, that];
             1305          (ii) the need for an extension is not the result of any default or neglect by the
             1306      applicant[,]; and [that]
             1307          (iii) the water is still available[; except no].
             1308          (e) No extension shall exceed the time necessary to satisfy the primary purpose of the
             1309      original application.
             1310          (f) A request for extension of the fixed time period must be filed in writing in the
             1311      office of the state engineer [not later than 60 days] on or before the expiration date of the
             1312      application.
             1313          (3) (a) Before the approval of any application for the [appropriations] appropriation of
             1314      water from navigable lakes or streams of the state [which] that contemplates the recovery of
             1315      salts and other minerals therefrom by precipitation or otherwise, the applicant shall file with the
             1316      state engineer a copy of a contract for the payment of royalties to the state [of Utah].
             1317          (b) The approval of an application shall be revoked in the event of the failure of the
             1318      applicant to comply with terms of [his] the royalty contract.
             1319          Section 41. Section 73-3-12 is amended to read:
             1320           73-3-12. Time limit on construction and application to beneficial use --
             1321      Extensions -- Procedures and criteria.
             1322          (1) As used in this section, "public agency" means:
             1323          (a) a public water supply agency of the state or a political subdivision of the state; or
             1324          (b) the Bureau of Reclamation.
             1325          (2) (a) The construction of the works and the application of water to beneficial use
             1326      shall be diligently prosecuted to completion within the time fixed by the state engineer.
             1327          (b) Extensions of time, not exceeding 50 years from the date of approval of the


             1328      application, except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), may be granted by the state engineer on
             1329      proper showing of diligence or reasonable cause for delay.
             1330          (c) Additional extensions of time, beyond 50 years, may be granted by the state
             1331      engineer on applications held by any public agency, if the public agency can demonstrate the
             1332      water will be needed to meet the reasonable future requirements of the public.
             1333          (d) All requests for extension of time [shall be made by signed statement and] shall be
             1334      filed in the office of the state engineer on or before the date fixed for filing proof of
             1335      appropriation.
             1336          (e) Extensions not exceeding 14 years after the date of approval may be granted by the
             1337      state engineer upon a sufficient showing [by signed statement], but extensions beyond 14 years
             1338      shall be granted only after application and publication of notice.
             1339          (f) (i) The state engineer shall publish a notice of the application once a week for two
             1340      successive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation, in the county in which the source of
             1341      the water supply is located and where the water is to be used.
             1342          (ii) The notice shall:
             1343          (A) state that an application has been made; and
             1344          (B) specify where the interested party may obtain additional information relating to the
             1345      application.
             1346          (g) Any person who owns a water right from the source of supply referred to in
             1347      Subsection (2)(f) or holds an application from that source of supply may file a protest with the
             1348      state engineer:
             1349          (i) within 20 days after the notice is published, if the adjudicative proceeding is
             1350      informal; and
             1351          (ii) within 30 days after the notice is published, if the adjudicative proceeding is
             1352      formal.
             1353          (h) In considering an application to extend the time in which to place water to
             1354      beneficial use under an approved application, the state engineer shall deny the extension and
             1355      declare the application lapsed, unless the applicant affirmatively shows that the applicant has
             1356      exercised or is exercising reasonable and due diligence in working toward completion of the
             1357      appropriation.
             1358          (i) (i) If reasonable and due diligence is shown by the applicant, the state engineer shall


             1359      approve the extension.
             1360          (ii) The approved extension is effective so long as the applicant continues to exercise
             1361      reasonable diligence in completing the appropriation.
             1362          (j) (i) The state engineer shall consider the holding of an approved application by any
             1363      public agency to meet the reasonable future requirements of the public to be reasonable and
             1364      due diligence within the meaning of this section for the first 50 years.
             1365          (ii) The state engineer may approve extensions beyond 50 years for a public agency, if
             1366      the agency provides information sufficient to demonstrate the water will be needed to meet the
             1367      reasonable future requirements of the public.
             1368          (k) If the state engineer finds unjustified delay or lack of diligence in prosecuting the
             1369      works to completion, the state engineer may deny the extension or may grant the request in part
             1370      or upon conditions, including a reduction of the priority of all or part of the application.
             1371          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsections (3)(b) and (c), an application upon which
             1372      proof has not been submitted shall lapse and have no further force or effect after the expiration
             1373      of 50 years from the date of its approval.
             1374          (b) If the works are constructed with which to make beneficial use of the water applied
             1375      for, the state engineer may, upon showing of that fact, grant additional time beyond the 50-year
             1376      period in which to make proof.
             1377          (c) An application held by a public agency to meet the reasonable future requirements
             1378      of the public, for which proof of appropriation has not been submitted, shall lapse, unless
             1379      extended as provided in Subsection (2)(j).
             1380          Section 42. Section 73-3b-206 is amended to read:
             1381           73-3b-206. Lapse of recovery permit.
             1382          A recovery permit will lapse if the recovery project is not completed within [two] five
             1383      years from the date of approval unless the applicant requests an extension of time to complete
             1384      the project and the state engineer approves the request.
             1385          Section 43. Section 73-4-3 is amended to read:
             1386           73-4-3. Procedure for action to determine rights -- Notice to and list of claimants
             1387      -- Manner of giving notice of further proceedings -- Duties of engineer -- Survey -- Notice
             1388      of completion.
             1389          (1) Upon the filing of any action by the state engineer as provided in Section 73-4-1 , or


             1390      by any person [or persons] claiming the right to [the] use [of] the waters of any river system,
             1391      lake, underground water basin, or other natural source of supply[, which] that involves a
             1392      determination of the rights to the major part of the water of [such] the source of supply or the
             1393      rights of ten or more of the claimants of [such] the source of supply, the clerk of the district
             1394      court shall notify the state engineer that [such] a suit has been filed.
             1395          (2) (a) The state engineer then shall give notice to the claimants by publishing notice
             1396      once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper designated by the court as most likely
             1397      to give notice to such claimants.
             1398          (b) The notice shall [set forth that] state: [such]
             1399          (i) an action has been filed;
             1400          (ii) the name of the action [and];
             1401          (iii) the name and location of the court in which the action is pending; and
             1402          (iv) the name or description of the water source involved[; and shall require claimants].
             1403          (c) Claimants to the use of water [therefrom to] shall notify the state engineer within 90
             1404      days from the date notice is given of their names and addresses.
             1405          (d) After the expiration of 90 days, the state engineer shall prepare a list [which] that
             1406      shall include the names and addresses of all claimants then of record in [his] the state
             1407      engineer's office and all claimants who have notified the state engineer of their addresses, and
             1408      this list shall be certified by the state engineer as complete and filed with the clerk of the court.
             1409          (e) The court upon petition may by order permit the addition of names and addresses to
             1410      this list at any time during the pendency of the action, and the clerk of the court may, without
             1411      court order, upon notice from the claimant note any change of address.
             1412          (f) If any claimant appears in this action by an attorney, the clerk shall note on the list
             1413      the address of the attorney.
             1414          (g) After the list is filed by the state engineer, notice of further proceedings, after
             1415      service of summons, may be given without court order by mailing a copy thereof to the persons
             1416      listed at the addresses listed and by mailing a copy thereof to any attorney of record for any
             1417      such person, and notice may be given to such listed persons and to all other claimants by
             1418      publication in the manner and for the time prescribed by order of the district court. [When
             1419      such]
             1420          (3) After the statement or list [shall have been] is filed, the state engineer shall begin


             1421      the survey of the water source and the ditches, canals, wells, tunnels, or other works diverting
             1422      water therefrom[; and as].
             1423          (4) (a) As soon as [this] the survey [has been completed,] is complete, the state
             1424      engineer shall file notice of completion with the clerk and give notice by [registered] mail or by
             1425      personal service to all claimants whose names appear on the list that:
             1426          (i) the survey [has been completed and that] is complete;
             1427          (ii) their claims are due within 90 days from the date of notice[,]; and
             1428          (iii) within 90 days after [such] service of [such] the notice, each claimant must file a
             1429      written statement with the clerk of the court setting forth [his] the claimant's respective claim to
             1430      the use of [such] the water.
             1431          (b) Notice given by mail [shall be] is complete when the notice is mailed.
             1432          (5) When [such] a suit has been filed by the state engineer as provided by Section
             1433      73-4-1 , or by any person [or persons] involving the major part of the waters of any river
             1434      system, lake, underground water basin, or other source of supply, or the rights of ten or more of
             1435      the water claimants of [such] the source of supply, whether [such] the suit is filed prior to or
             1436      after the enactment hereof, [it shall be the duty of] the state engineer, upon receiving notice
             1437      [thereof to], shall examine the records of [his] the state engineer's office with respect to the
             1438      water source involved, and if they are incomplete to make such further investigation and survey
             1439      as may be necessary for the preparation of the report and recommendation as required by
             1440      Section 73-4-11 .
             1441          (6) In all such cases the court shall proceed to determine the water rights involved in
             1442      the manner provided by this chapter, and not otherwise.
             1443          Section 44. Section 73-4-4 is amended to read:
             1444           73-4-4. Summons -- Service -- Publication -- Form -- Delivery of form for
             1445      claimant's statement.
             1446          (1) (a) Claimants whose names appear on the list prescribed by [the next preceding
             1447      section] Section 73-4-3 at the time the list is filed by the state engineer with the clerk of the
             1448      court shall be served with a summons issued out of the district court and served as a summons
             1449      is served in other civil cases.
             1450          (b) Upon the filing by the state engineer of an affidavit that [he] the state engineer has
             1451      searched the records of [his] the state engineer's office and has listed all names as required by


             1452      Section 73-4-3 , and upon proof of publication of notice to all claimants to notify the state
             1453      engineer of their names and addresses, summons may be served on all other persons and
             1454      claimants not listed on said list by publication of summons, in a newspaper or newspapers
             1455      designated by the judge of the court as most likely to give notice to the persons served, five
             1456      times, once each week for five successive weeks.
             1457          (c) Service of summons [to be] is completed upon the date of the publication.
             1458          (d) The summons [in such cases] shall be substantially in the following form:
             1459          In the District Court of .......... County, State of Utah, in the matter of the general
             1460      adjudication of water rights in the described water source.
             1461     
SUMMONS

             1462          The State of Utah to the said defendant:
             1463          You are hereby summoned to appear and defend the above entitled action which is
             1464      brought for the purpose of making a general determination of the water rights of the described
             1465      water source. Upon the service of this summons upon you, you will thereafter be subject to the
             1466      jurisdiction of the entitled court and it shall be your duty to follow further proceedings in the
             1467      above entitled action and to protect your rights therein. When the state engineer has completed
             1468      [his] the survey you will be given a further written notice, either in person or by [registered]
             1469      mail, sent to your last-known address, that you must file a water users claim in this action
             1470      setting forth the nature of your claim, and said notice will specify the date upon which your
             1471      water users claim is due and thereafter you must file said claim within the time set and your
             1472      failure so to do will constitute a default in the premises and a judgment may be entered against
             1473      you declaring and adjudging that you have no right in or to the waters of described water
             1474      source.
             1475          (2) At the time the said notice of completion of survey is given, the state engineer must
             1476      mail or otherwise deliver a form upon which the claimant shall present in writing, as provided
             1477      in the next succeeding section, all the particulars relating to the appropriation of the water of
             1478      said river system or water source to which [he] the claimant lays claim.
             1479          Section 45. Section 73-4-11 is amended to read:
             1480           73-4-11. Report and recommendation by engineer to court.
             1481          (1) Within [thirty] 30 days after the expiration of the [60] 90 days allowed for filing
             1482      statements of claims, the state engineer shall begin to tabulate the facts contained in the


             1483      statements filed and to investigate, whenever [he] the state engineer shall [deem] consider
             1484      necessary, the facts set forth in said statements by reference to the surveys already made or by
             1485      further surveys, and shall as expeditiously as possible make a report to the court with [his] the
             1486      recommendation of how all rights involved shall be determined.
             1487          (2) After full consideration of the statements of claims, and of the surveys, records, and
             1488      files, and after a personal examination of the river system or water source involved, if such
             1489      examination is [deemed] considered necessary, the state engineer shall formulate a report and a
             1490      proposed determination of all rights to the use of the water of such river system or water
             1491      source, and a copy of the same shall be mailed [by regular mail] to each claimant with notice
             1492      that any claimant dissatisfied therewith may within [ninety] 90 days from such date of mailing
             1493      file with the clerk of the district court a written objection thereto duly verified on oath.
             1494          (3) The state engineer shall distribute the waters from the natural streams or other
             1495      natural sources in accordance with the proposed determination or modification thereof by court
             1496      order until a final decree is rendered by the court; provided, if the right to the use of said waters
             1497      has been theretofore decreed or adjudicated, said waters shall be distributed in accordance with
             1498      such decree until the same is reversed, modified, vacated, or otherwise legally set aside.
             1499          Section 46. Section 73-5-4 is amended to read:
             1500           73-5-4. Controlling works and measuring devices.
             1501          [Every] (1) To assist the state engineer or water commissioner in the regulation,
             1502      distribution, and measurement of water, each person using water in this state shall construct or
             1503      install and maintain [a substantial head gate, cap, valve or other] controlling works[, weir
             1504      flume] and a measuring device at:
             1505          (a) each [point] location where water is diverted [or turned out, for the purpose of
             1506      regulating and measuring the quantity of water that may be used. Such controlling works or
             1507      measuring device shall be of such design as the state engineer may approve and so that the
             1508      same can be locked and kept set by him or his assistants; and such owner shall construct and
             1509      maintain, when required by the state engineer, flumes or other measuring devices at such points
             1510      along his ditch as may be necessary for the purpose of assisting the state engineer or his
             1511      assistants in determining the amount of water that is to be diverted into his ditch from the
             1512      stream or water source, or taken from it by the various users. Every] from a source; and
             1513          (b) any other location required by the state engineer.


             1514          (2) Each person using water in this state shall make the controlling works and
             1515      measuring device accessible to the state engineer or water commissioner.
             1516          (3) The state engineer shall approve the design of:
             1517          (a) the measuring device; and
             1518          (b) controlling works so that the state engineer or a water commissioner may regulate
             1519      and lock the works.
             1520          (4) (a) Each owner or manager of a reservoir [located across or upon the bed of a
             1521      natural stream] shall construct and maintain[, when required] a measuring device as directed by
             1522      the state engineer[, a flume or other measuring device of a plan to be approved by the state
             1523      engineer, below such reservoir at a point approved by him, and a flume or measuring device
             1524      above such reservoir on each stream or source of supply discharging into such reservoir, for the
             1525      purpose of assisting the state engineer in determining the amount of water to which prior
             1526      appropriators are entitled, and thereafter diverting it for such prior appropriators' use. If the
             1527      owner of irrigation works, canals, reservoirs, wells, pumps or tunnels shall refuse or neglect] to
             1528      measure the inflow, storage content, and outflow from the reservoir.
             1529          (b) The state engineer shall approve the design and location of the measuring device.
             1530          (c) The owner or manager of a reservoir shall make the measuring device accessible to
             1531      the state engineer or water commissioner.
             1532          (5) If a water user refuses or neglects to construct or install [such head gates, caps,
             1533      valves, flumes] the controlling works or measuring [devices] device after [thirty] 30 days'
             1534      notice to do so by the state engineer, the state engineer may:
             1535          (a) forbid the use of water until the user [thereof shall comply with his] complies with
             1536      the state engineer's requirement[, or the state engineer may proceed to construct or install or
             1537      cause to be constructed or installed such controlling works or measuring devices, and the cost
             1538      of the same shall be a lien against the lands and water rights served thereby, and the state
             1539      engineer is authorized to bring action in the name of the state to foreclose such lien.]; and
             1540          (b) commence enforcement proceedings authorized by Section 73-2-25 .
             1541          Section 47. Section 73-18b-1 is amended to read:
             1542           73-18b-1. Water safety rules and regulations -- Adoption.
             1543          (1) The Board of Parks and Recreation may make rules necessary to promote safety in
             1544      swimming, scuba diving, and related activities on any waters where public boating is


             1545      permitted.
             1546          (2) The [commission] Board of Parks and Recreation may consider recommendations
             1547      of and cooperate with other state agencies and the owners or operators of those waters.
             1548          Section 48. Section 78-12-23 is amended to read:
             1549           78-12-23. Within six years -- Mesne profits of real property -- Instrument in
             1550      writing.
             1551          An action may be brought within six years:
             1552          (1) for the mesne profits of real property;
             1553          (2) upon any contract, obligation, or liability founded upon an instrument in writing,
             1554      except those mentioned in Section 78-12-22 [.]; and
             1555          (3) to recover fire suppression costs or other damages caused by wildland fire.


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]