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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill provides for the creation of a new nonprofit, statewide partnership addressing
10 water.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines terms;
14 ▸ directs oversight of the creation of a partnership and the state's role in that
15 partnership;
16 ▸ outlines powers and duties of the partnership;
17 ▸ addresses the selection of an executive director and board of directors;
18 ▸ requires reporting; and
19 ▸ addresses role of water supply entities.
20 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21 This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2024:
22 ▸ to the Department of Natural Resources - Water Resources, as a one-time
23 appropriation:
24 • from the General Fund, One-time, $2,000,000; and
25 ▸ to the Department of Natural Resources - Water Resources, as an ongoing
26 appropriation:
27 • from the General Fund, $1,000,000.
28 Other Special Clauses:
29 This bill provides a special effective date.
30 Utah Code Sections Affected:
31 ENACTS:
32 79-2-407, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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34 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
35 Section 1. Section 79-2-407 is enacted to read:
36 79-2-407. Utah Water Ways.
37 (1) As used in this section:
38 (a) "Partnership" means the nonprofit, statewide partnership described in Subsections
39 (2) and (3).
40 (b) "Water supply entity" means an entity supplying either culinary or irrigation water
41 to a water user.
42 (2) The department shall oversee:
43 (a) the creation of a nonprofit, statewide partnership in accordance with this section;
44 and
45 (b) the state's participation in the partnership.
46 (3) The partnership shall:
47 (a) be known as "Utah Water Ways";
48 (b) have as core purposes to:
49 (i) facilitate coordination of efforts to optimize the use of water by:
50 (A) sponsoring policy discussions about the state's water supply;
51 (B) engaging the private sector to help support efforts to optimize the use of water and
52 related activities;
53 (C) coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of
54 Environmental Quality on water related issues;
55 (D) maintaining communication among partners in the partnership;
56 (E) providing a line of communication from partners to state leaders; and
57 (F) promoting coordination of grants, rebate programs, or sponsorships that support the
58 optimal use of water; and
59 (ii) encourage residents of the state to make changes to optimize the use of water and
60 care for the state's water supply by:
61 (A) providing public education and public awareness campaigns and helping
62 consolidate campaigns about the state's water supply, water quality, and water use; and
63 (B) providing residents of the state with tools to understand what can be done to
64 optimize the use of water; and
65 (c) seek grants, gifts, donations, devises, and bequests.
66 (4) The board of directors for the partnership shall:
67 (a) consist of 13 individuals as follows:
68 (i) the executive director of the department, or the executive director's designee;
69 (ii) the director of the Division of Water Resources, or the director's designee;
70 (iii) the executive director of the Department of Environmental Quality, or the
71 executive director's designee;
72 (iv) the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food, or the
73 commissioner's designee;
74 (v) a representative of rural Utah selected jointly by the governor, the speaker of the
75 House of Representatives, and the president of the Senate;
76 (vi) the general managers for four water conservancy districts selected jointly by the
77 governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the president of the Senate; and
78 (vii) four members of the business community selected jointly by the governor, the
79 speaker of the House of Representatives, and the president of the Senate;
80 (b) hire an executive director by August 1, 2023, who shall serve for an initial term of
81 four years; and
82 (c) adopt policies concerning the board of directors' internal organization and
83 procedures.
84 (5) The partnership may, consistent with this section, receive a grant, gift, donation,
85 devise, or bequest.
86 (6) The partnership shall annually report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
87 Environment Interim Committee.
88 (7) Notwithstanding the creation of the partnership, a water supply entity may maintain
89 an important role with water supply users to encourage the optimized use of water such as
90 through localized messaging, rebate programs, or other activities.
91 Section 2. Appropriation.
92 The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
93 2023, and ending June 30, 2024. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
94 fiscal year 2024. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
95 Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
96 indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
97 ITEM 1
98 To Department of Natural Resources -- Water Resources
99 From General Fund
1,000,000
100 From General Fund, One-time
2,000,000
101 Schedule of Programs:
102 Planning 3,000,000
103 Section 3. Effective date.
104 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.