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NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, & ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Members Present: Rep. Roger E. Barrus, Chair
Rep. John Mathis, Vice Chair
Rep. Mel Brown
Rep. Jack Draxler
Rep. Kerry Gibson
Rep. James Gowans
Rep. Neal Hendrickson
Rep. Mike Noel
Rep. Patrick Painter
Rep. Christine Watkins
Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox
Rep. Brad Winn
Members Absent: Rep. Brad Dee
Rep. Phil Riesen
Staff Present: Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
Carrie Griffith, Committee Secretary
Note: List of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes
Rep. Barrus called the meeting to order at 8:06 a.m.
MOTION: Rep. Noel moved to approve the minutes of the February 26, 2009 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Brown, Rep. Hendrickson, Rep. Wilcox and Rep. Winn absent for the vote.
S.B. 38 Severance Tax Amendments (Sen. J. Valentine) (Rep. J. Dougall)
Sen. Valentine explained the bill to the committee.
Rep. Mathis moved to delete S.B. 38 and replace it with 2nd Sub. S.B. 38. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Wilcox and Rep. Winn absent for the vote.
Spoke for the bill: Lee Peacock, Utah Petroleum Association
Morris Jackson, Questar and Utah Taxpayers Association
MOTION: Rep. Painter moved to pass out 2nd Sub. S.B. 38 favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Wilcox absent for the vote.
H.B. 389 Applications for a Small Amount of Water (Rep. P. Painter) (handout)
MOTION: Rep. Painter moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page 2, Line 37 :
37 (b) "Livestock water right"
{
is as defined in Section
73-3-31
.
}
means a
right for:
(i) livestock to consume water:
(A) directly from the water source; or
(B) from an impoundment into which the water is diverted; and
(ii) associated uses of water related to the raising and care of livestock.
The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Mathis absent for the vote.
Rep. Painter explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke for the bill: Fred Finlinson, Utah Water Coalition
Boyd Clayton, Utah Water Rights
LeGrand Bitter, Utah Association of Special Districts
MOTION: Rep. Gowans moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
H.B. 383 Water Rights Adjudication Amendments (Rep. J. Gowans)
MOTION: Rep. Gowans moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page 3, Lines 71 through 72 :
71 (b) hold a public meeting in the survey area to inform a
{
person diverting water
from the
72 water source }
a water right claimant
of the survey.
2. Page 4, Lines 105 through 107 :
105 (b) mail
or deliver
a copy of the [same shall be mailed] report and proposed
determination to
106 each claimant with notice that any claimant dissatisfied [
107 proposed determination may within 90 days from [
or
delivery
file with the clerk
The motion passed unanimously.
Rep. Gowans explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke for the bill: Boyd Clayton, Utah Division of Water Rights
Fred Finlinson, Utah Water Coalition
LeGrand Bitter, Utah Association of Special Districts
MOTION: Rep. Brown moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
H.B. 169 Public Lands Policy Coordination Amendments (Rep. M. Noel)
Rep. Noel explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke to the bill: Chris Parker, Legislative Research and General Counsel
John Harja, Public Lands Coordinating Council
MOTION: Rep. Wilcox moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.
H.B. 379 Environmental Litigation Bond (Rep. M. Noel)
Rep. Noel explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke against the bill: Jason Groenwald
Rachel Otto, Attorney
MOTION: Rep. Gibson moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.
1st Sub. H.B. 256 Livestock Watering Rights Amendments (Rep. M. Noel)
MOTION: Rep. Noel moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page 3, Lines 75 through 77 :
75 (ii) "Public land" does not mean land owned by:
76 (A) the Division of Wildlife Resources;
{
or
}
77 (B) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration
{
.
}
or
(C) the Division of Parks and Recreation.
The motion passed unanimously.
Rep. Noel explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke to the bill: Leonard Blackham, Commissioner Utah Agriculture and Food
MOTION: Rep. Painter moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Wilcox absent for the vote.
MOTION: Rep. Hendrickson moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.
Rep. Barrus adjourned the meeting at 9:22 a.m.
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