State Water Development Commission (Utah Code: Title 73 Water and Irrigation; Chapter 27)

Utah Code Page 1 Chapter 27 State Water Development Commission 73-27-101 River districts. For the purposes of this chapter, the river districts of the state are as follows: (1) Green River District - Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties; (2) Upper Colorado River District - Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan Counties; (3) Lower Colorado River District - Beaver, Eastern Garfield, Iron, Kane, Washington, and Wayne Counties; (4) Lower Sevier River District - Millard and Sanpete Counties; (5) Upper Sevier River District - Sevier, Piute, and Western Garfield Counties; (6) Provo River District - Juab, Utah, and Wasatch Counties; (7) Salt Lake District - Salt Lake and Tooele Counties; (8) Weber River District - Davis, Morgan, Summit, and Weber Counties; and (9) Bear River District - Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties. Enacted by Chapter 124, 2000 General Session 73-27-102 Legislative Water Development Commission created. (1) The Legislative Water Development Commission is created to determine the state's role in the protection, conservation, and development of the state's water resources. (2) The commission membership shall include: (a) five members of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than four of whom may be from the same political party; (b) eight members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, no more than six of whom may be from the same political party; and (c) nonvoting members, appointed by the Legislative Management Committee, upon recommendation by the cochairs of the commission described in Subsection (5). (3) (a) The members appointed by the Legislative Management Committee under Subsection (2)(c) shall be appointed or reappointed to a two-year term. (b) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the Legislative Management Committee, in consultation with the cochairs of the commission, shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term. (4) The president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall, to the extent possible, appoint members under Subsections (2)(a) and (b) that represent both rural and urban areas of the state. (5) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed under Subsection (2)(a) as a cochair of the commission. (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House of Representatives appointed under Subsection (2)(b) as a cochair of the commission. (6) Attendance by at least 50% of one legislative house and more than 50% of the other legislative house constitutes a quorum. (7) Utah Code Page 2 (a) Compensation and expenses of a member of the commission who is a legislator are governed by Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Legislative Compensation and Expenses. (b) Commission members who are employees of the state shall receive no additional compensation. (c) Other commission members shall receive no compensation or expenses for their service on the commission. (8) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support to the commission. Amended by Chapter 477, 2017 General Session 73-27-103 Duties of commission. (1) The commission shall consider and make recommendations to the Legislature and governor on the following issues: (a) how the water needs of the state's growing municipal and industrial sectors will be met; (b) what the impact of federal regulations and legislation will be on the ability of the state to manage and develop its compacted water rights; (c) how the state will fund water projects; (d) whether the state should become an owner and operator of water projects; (e) how the state will encourage the implementation of water conservation programs; and (f) other water issues of statewide importance. (2) The commission shall: (a) consult with the Division of Water Resources and the Board of Water Resources regarding: (i) recommendations for rules, criteria, targets, processes, and plans described in Subsection 73-10g-105(3); and (ii) the scope of any request for proposals that may be issued by the Division of Water Resources and Board of Water Resources to assist in creating the rules, criteria, targets, processes, and plans described in Subsection 73-10g-105(3); and (b) report the recommendations described in Subsection (2)(a) to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee and the Legislative Management Committee by October 30, 2016. (3) The commission may: (a) form one or more working groups from the membership of the commission to consider and study the issues described in this section; and (b) meet up to six times per calendar year without approval from the Legislative Management Committee. Amended by Chapter 418, 2018 General Session