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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill creates the Agricultural Water Optimization Task Force.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ creates the Agricultural Water Optimization Task Force;
13 ▸ describes the duties of the Agricultural Water Optimization Task Force, including
14 reporting requirements;
15 ▸ creates the Agricultural Water Optimization Restricted Account; and
16 ▸ makes technical changes.
17 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18 This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2019:
19 ▸ to the Agricultural Water Optimization Restricted Account as a one-time
20 appropriation:
21 • from the General Fund, one-time, $75,000;
22 • from the Agriculture Resource Development Fund, one-time, $500,000;
23 • from the Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund, one-time,
24 $500,000; and
25 • from Nonlapsing Balances - Utah State University Cooperative Extension,
26 one-time, $100,000; and
27 ▸ to the Department of Natural Resources -- Water Resources as a one-time
28 appropriation:
29 • from the Agricultural Water Optimization Restricted Account, $1,275,000.
30 Other Special Clauses:
31 This bill provides a special effective date.
32 Utah Code Sections Affected:
33 AMENDS:
34 73-10g-101, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 458
35 ENACTS:
36 73-10g-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37 73-10g-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38 73-10g-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39 73-10g-204, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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41 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
42 Section 1. Section 73-10g-101 is amended to read:
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44 73-10g-101. Title.
45 (1) This chapter is known as "Water Infrastructure and Long-Term Planning."
46 (2) This part is known as "Funding."
47 Section 2. Section 73-10g-201 is enacted to read:
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49 73-10g-201. Title.
50 This part is known as "Agricultural Water Optimization."
51 Section 3. Section 73-10g-202 is enacted to read:
52 73-10g-202. Agricultural Water Optimization Task Force.
53 (1) There is created the Agricultural Water Optimization Task Force, consisting of:
54 (a) the following voting members:
55 (i) one person representing the Department of Agriculture and Food;
56 (ii) one person representing the board or division;
57 (iii) one person representing the Division of Water Rights;
58 (iv) one person representing the Division of Water Quality;
59 (v) one person representing the interests of the agriculture industry;
60 (vi) one person representing environmental interests; and
61 (vii) one person representing water conservancy districts; and
62 (b) one nonvoting member from the higher education community with a background in
63 research.
64 (2) (a) The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food shall appoint the
65 members described in Subsections (1)(a)(i), (v), and (vii).
66 (b) The executive director of the Department of Natural Resources shall appoint the
67 members described in Subsections (1)(a)(ii), (iii), and (vi).
68 (c) The governor shall appoint the members described in Subsections (1)(a)(iv) and
69 (1)(b).
70 (3) The division shall provide administrative support to the task force.
71 (4) The task force shall select a chair from among its membership.
72 (5) Service on the task force is voluntary and members may not be compensated for
73 their service on the task force but may receive per diem and travel expenses as allowed in
74 Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107, and relevant Division of Finance rules.
75 Section 4. Section 73-10g-203 is enacted to read:
76 73-10g-203. Duties of the task force.
77 (1) The task force created in Section 73-10g-202 shall:
78 (a) identify critical issues facing the state's long-term water supply, particularly in
79 regard to how the state should optimize agricultural water supply and use in light of future
80 population growth, and the future water needs of Utah agriculture;
81 (b) identify current obstacles to, and constraints upon, quantification of agricultural
82 water use, and recommend means, methods, technologies, or other opportunities to improve the
83 quantification of agricultural water use on a basin level; and
84 (c) identify means, methods, systems, or technologies with the potential to maintain or
85 increase agricultural production while reducing the agriculture industry's water diversion and
86 consumption.
87 (2) The task force shall issue requests for proposals and award grants to study the
88 issues identified in Subsection (1), prioritizing proposals and grants as necessary.
89 (3) In identifying critical issues as described in Subsection (1), and prioritizing requests
90 for proposals and grants as described in Subsection (2), the task force shall:
91 (a) identify, develop, and apply sound science and relevant research on optimizing
92 agricultural water use;
93 (b) measure gains at the basin level;
94 (c) take into account the variety of agricultural products, opportunities to improve
95 water use practices, and local needs;
96 (d) address and account for farm economics at the enterprise and community level;
97 (e) work within existing agricultural markets or encourage market behavior that
98 financially rewards improved practices;
99 (f) recognize established water rights;
100 (g) create meaningful benefits for farmers to optimize water use and protect water
101 quality;
102 (h) monitor funded research projects and evaluate the efficacy of completed research;
103 and
104 (i) disseminate research findings.
105 (4) The task force shall report on its progress under this section by November 30, of
106 each year, to:
107 (a) the Legislative Water Development Commission;
108 (b) the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee; and
109 (c) the Executive Water Task Force.
110 Section 5. Section 73-10g-204 is enacted to read:
111 73-10g-204. Agricultural Water Optimization Account.
112 (1) There is created a restricted account within the General Fund called the Agricultural
113 Water Optimization Account.
114 (2) The Agricultural Water Optimization Account consists of appropriations from the
115 Legislature and donations.
116 (3) The task force created in Section 73-10g-202 may, subject to appropriation, expend
117 money in the Agricultural Water Optimization Account to fulfill the duties of Section
118 73-10g-203.
119 Section 6. Appropriation.
120 The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
121 2018, and ending June 30, 2019. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
122 fiscal year 2019. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
123 Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
124 indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
125 ITEM 1
126 To General Fund Restricted - Agricultural Water Optimization Account
127 From General Fund, one-time
$75,000
128 From Agricultural Resource Development Fund, one-time
$500,000
129 From Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund,
130 one-time
$500,000
131 From Nonlapsing Balances - Utah State University Cooperative
132 Extension, one-time
$100,000
133 Schedule of Programs:
134 Agricultural Water Optimization Account $1,175,000
135 ITEM 2
136 To Department of Natural Resources -- Water Resources
137 From Agricultural Water Optimization Restricted Account,
138 one-time
$1,275,000
139 Schedule of Programs:
140 Funding projects and research $1,275,000
141 Under Section 63J-1-603, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided under
142 this section not lapse at the close of fiscal year 2019. The use of any nonlapsing funds is
143 limited to the purposes described in Section 73-10g-203.
144 Section 7. Effective date.
145 If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
146 upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
147 Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
148 the date of veto override.