Representative Scott H. Chew proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
UTAH WATER WAYS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Calvin R. Musselman

5     
Senate Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall

6     

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
33     

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.