1     
WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen G. Handy

5     
Senate Sponsor: Todd D. Weiler

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions of the Election Code to provide for filling a vacancy on the
10     board of a water conservancy district located in more than one county.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     establishes a process for filling a vacancy on the board of a water conservancy
14     district located in more than one county, including providing notice, nominating
15     candidates, and appointing an individual to fill the vacancy.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          20A-1-512, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 40
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 20A-1-512 is amended to read:
26          20A-1-512. Midterm vacancies on local district boards.
27          (1) (a) [Whenever] When a vacancy occurs on any local district board for any reason,
28     the following shall appoint a replacement to serve out the unexpired term in accordance with
29     this section:

30          (i) the local district board, if the person vacating the position was elected; or
31          (ii) the appointing authority, as that term is defined in Section 17B-1-102, if the
32     appointing authority appointed the person vacating the position.
33          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(c) or (d), before acting to fill the vacancy, the
34     local district board or appointing authority shall:
35          (i) give public notice of the vacancy at least two weeks before the local district board
36     or appointing authority meets to fill the vacancy by:
37          (A) if there is a newspaper of general circulation, as that term is defined in Section
38     45-1-201, within the district, publishing the notice in the newspaper of general circulation;
39          (B) posting the notice in three public places within the local district; and
40          (C) posting on the Utah Public Notice Website created under Section 63F-1-701; and
41          (ii) identify, in the notice:
42          (A) the date, time, and place of the meeting where the vacancy will be filled;
43          (B) the individual to whom an individual who is interested in an appointment to fill the
44     vacancy may submit the individual's name for consideration; and
45          (C) any submission deadline.
46          (c) An appointing authority is not subject to Subsection (1)(b) if:
47          (i) the appointing authority appoints one of the appointing authority's own members;
48     and
49          (ii) that member meets all applicable statutory board member qualifications.
50          (d) When a vacancy occurs on the board of a water conservancy district located in
51     more than one county:
52          (i) the board shall give notice of the vacancy to the county legislative bodies that
53     nominated the vacating trustee as provided in Section 17B-2a-1005;
54          (ii) the county legislative bodies described in Subsection (1)(d)(i) shall collectively
55     compile a list of three nominees to fill the vacancy; and
56          (iii) the governor shall, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint an
57     individual to fill the vacancy from nominees submitted as provided in Subsection

58     17B-2a-1005(2)(c).
59          (2) If the local district board fails to appoint an individual to complete an elected board
60     member's term within 90 days, the legislative body of the county or municipality that created
61     the local district shall fill the vacancy in accordance with the procedure for a local district
62     described in Subsection (1)(b).