Clean coal research.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF
WYOMING
07LSO-0670

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0321

Clean coal research.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Lockhart and Senator(s) Townsend

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to clean coal technology; creating an abandoned mine land funds reserve account; creating a clean coal research task force; requiring a report; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

W.S. 35
‑
11
‑
1210 is created to read:

35
‑
11
‑
1210.

Abandoned mine land funds reserve account.

(a)

There is created the abandoned mine land funds reserve account.

(b)

All funds received from the federal government, from the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2006, Section 411(h), pursuant to 2007 H.R. 6111, shall be deposited into the abandoned mine land funds reserve account.

(c)

All funds and all interest generated on the funds, shall remain in the abandoned mine land funds reserve account until appropriated by the legislature.

(d)

The funds under subsection (b) of this section are separate from and in addition to the funds distributed to
Wyoming
for the abandoned mine land program under W.S. 35
‑
11
‑
1201 through 35
‑
11
‑
1209.

Section 2.

(a)

There is created a clean coal research task force consisting of thirteen (13) members. The task force members shall select a chairman and a vice-chairman.

(b)

Ten
(1
0
) members of the task force shall be members of the
Wyoming
energy resources council created pursuant to W.S. 21
‑
17
‑
117(e)
or their designees
.

(c)

T
hree
(
3
) members of the task force shall be appointed by the governor from the following communities:

(i)

One (1) member from t
he coal production industry;

(ii)

One (1) member with coal enhancement or beneficiation experience
; and

(iii) One (1) member from the electricity generation industry
.

(d)

The task force shall meet at the call of the chairman to review and evaluate methods to enhance research into clean coal technologies, including review of the potential for creating a clean coal technology research facility in the state.

(e)

The task force shall issue a report to the governor and the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee no later than September 30, 2007 including, but not limited to, the following recommendations:

(i)

Recommendations regarding the best methods for funding research into clean coal technologies in
Wyoming
;

(ii)

Recommendations regarding the siting and administration of a facility dedicated to research into clean coal technologies.

(
f
)

The task force shall be staffed by the governor's office with support from the
University
of
Wyoming
school of energy resources. The task force may contract for administrative and research services to aid in preparation of the task force report. The governor's office shall convene the task force no later than May 1, 2007.

(
g
)

The task force shall exist until September 30, 2007. Members of the task force shall not receive a salary but shall receive reimbursement for necessary travel and per diem expenses in the manner and amount provided for state employees u
nder W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
102 and 9
‑
3
‑
103.

Section 3.

(a)

There is appropriated one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) from the
general fund
to the governor's office for expenses incurred pursuant to this act.

(
b
)

There is appropriated five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) from the
general fund
to a separate account for the purpose of clean coal technology research. Funds deposited in the account shall only be expended upon appropriation by the legislature. Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008 or 9
‑
4
‑
207, unexpended funds shall not revert on June 30, 2008.

(
c
)

Funds expended under subsections (a)
and
(
b
) of this section shall be repaid to the general fund from the abandoned mine land funds reserve account as funds become available in that account, but not later than June 30, 2008.

Section 4.

This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

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HB0321