Representative Gay Lynn Bennion proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
RIPARIAN AMENDMENTS

2     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Gay Lynn Bennion

5     
Senate Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill addresses riparian areas.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     directs the creation of a state position related to riparian areas with a sunset date on
14     the position;
15          ▸     requires the division to publish information related to riparian areas; and
16          ▸     makes technical changes.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          63I-1-273, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 205, 261
24     ENACTS:
25          73-10-39, Utah Code Annotated 1953
26     

27     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28          Section 1. Section 63I-1-273 is amended to read:
29          63I-1-273. Repeal dates: Title 73.
30          (1) Title 73, Chapter 27, Legislative Water Development Commission, is repealed
31     January 1, 2031.
32          (2) Subsection 73-10-39(2), creating a position related to riparian areas, is repealed
33     July 1, 2029.
34          [(2)] (3) Title 73, Chapter 10g, Part 2, Agricultural Water Optimization, is repealed
35     July 1, 2028.
36          [(3)] (4) Section 73-18-3.5, which authorizes the Division of Outdoor Recreation to
37     appoint an advisory council that includes in the advisory council's duties advising on boating
38     policies, is repealed July 1, 2024.
39          [(4)] (5) In relation to Title 73, Chapter 31, Water Banking Act, on December 31,
40     2030:
41          (a) Subsection 73-1-4(2)(e)(xi) is repealed;
42          (b) Subsection 73-10-4(1)(h) is repealed; and
43          (c) Title 73, Chapter 31, Water Banking Act, is repealed.
44          [(5)] (6) Sections 73-32-302 and 73-32-303, related to the Great Salt Lake Advisory
45     Council, are repealed July 1, 2027.
46          Section 2. Section 73-10-39 is enacted to read:
47          73-10-39. Riparian areas efforts.
48          (1) As used in this section:
49          (a) "Division" means the Division of Water Resources.
50          (b) "Local government" means a county or municipality, as defined in Section
51     10-1-104.
52          (c) "Watershed council" means a council created under Chapter 10g, Part 3, Watershed
53     Councils Act.
54          (2) The Department of Natural Resources shall create a position that:
55          (a) coordinates with the division, the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, and
56     the Utah Geological Survey to provide expertise, specialized knowledge, and education and
57     outreach efforts with regard to the management and improvement of riparian areas;
58          (b) provides assistance to local governments who request assistance with regard to the
59     management and improvement of riparian areas;
60          (c) supports initiatives under Title 79, Chapter 2, Part 6, Watershed Restoration
61     Initiative, that benefit riparian areas;
62          (d) assists with projects related to tributaries to sovereign lands;
63          (e) facilitates efforts to create more resilience in riparian areas; and
64          (f) seeks discussions on the management and improvement of riparian areas with the
65     appropriate watershed council or councils.
66          (3) The division shall publish on a public website tools available for the management
67     or improvement of a riparian area, such as tools published by federal, state, or local
68     government agencies, including interlocal entities, and examples of local government efforts to
69     manage or improve riparian areas.
70          Section 3. Effective date.
71          This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.