Western states energy and environment symposium.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL HOUSE

BILL

NO.
0295

ENROLLED ACT NO. 99, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTIETH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
2009 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to the western states energy and environment symposium; authorizing a western states energy and environment symposium as specified; establishing a steering committee to develop plans and funding for the symposium;
providing that the University of Wyoming school of energy resources shall conduct the symposium at the direction of the steering committee;
authorizing legislative participation in the planning as specified; requiring a report after the symposium; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

(a)

A symposium steering committee is hereby created consisting of one (1) member of the Wyoming house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, one (1) member of the Wyoming senate appointed by the president of the senate, one (1) member representing energy producers, one (1) member representing energy consumers and one (1) member representing general business. The last three (3) members shall be appointed jointly by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house. The steering committee shall develop plans and funding for a western states energy and environment symposium to be held by November 1, 2010. The symposium shall be conducted by the
University
of
Wyoming
school of energy resources at the direction of the steering committee. The steering committee shall:

(i)

Develop plans and funding for the western states energy and environment symposium;

(ii)

Solicit public and private funding to supplement public funding appropriated under this act for the western states energy and environment symposium;

(iii)

Invite the following persons or representatives to attend and participate in the western states energy and environment symposium:

(A)

Select legislators and executive branch members from the governments of the thirteen (13) western states that are members of the council of state governments-west;

(B)

Experts from all key energy industries;

(C)

Experts from conservation, environmental and other concerned interest groups;

(D)

Top experts in the field of energy development, energy use, environment and economics;

(E)

A representative from state or regional chambers of commerce and business roundtables;

(F)

A representative from county government and a representative from municipal government from the thirteen (13) western states that are members of the council of state governments-west;

(G)

Any other persons and representatives of entities or organizations the steering committee may determine have an interest in contributing to or participating in the western states energy and environment symposium, including members of the general public.

(iv)

Solicit advice and opinions from experts and technical resources on energy development and use, and environmental protection consistent with the purposes of the symposium;

(v)

Solicit participation by national
and regional
organizations
and think tanks
, including but not limited to the
energy council, the interstate oil and gas compact commission, the energy foundation, the
national conference of state legislatures,
the
council of state governments
-west
and
the western
governors association;

(vi)

Work to establish a cooperative agreement among the participants to develop a high level cost/benefit economic analysis assessing the challenges of energy development, production, marketing, use and environmental protection within the western states, including an analysis of:

(A)

Renewable energy development, production and use;

(B)

Fossil fuel development, production and use;

(C)

Nuclear energy development, extraction and use;

(D)

Carbon management and impacts on cost of energy development, production, use and environmental protection;

(E)

Air quality in the context of energy development, production and use;

(F)

Projected demands and costs of energy.

(vii)

Submit a report no later than forty-five (45) days after the symposium adjourns to the legislatures, governors and congressional delegations of participating states and to all participants in the conference.

(b)

Legislative members assisting the school of energy resources under subsection (a) of this section shall receive salary and reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, as provided in W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101.

(c)

The school of energy resources may contract with consultants as necessary to facilitate the western states energy and environment symposium and its purposes.

(d)

The western states energy and environment symposium may be held within
Wyoming
or in any other state that may be participating in the symposium.

Section 2.

(a)

There is appropriated
two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00)
from the
general fund
to the

University
of
Wyoming
school of energy resources
. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending
December 31, 2010.

This appropriation shall only be expended for the purpose of
providing the staffing, technical support, including contracting with consultants as necessary, and costs of planning, conducting and reporting on the western states energy and environment symposium authorized under section 1 of this act.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on
December 31, 20
10
.

(b)

There is appropriated
two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00)
from the
general fund
to the
legislative service office
. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending
December 31, 2010.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on
December 31, 20
10
.
This appropriation shall be used for:

(i)

Salary and per diem expenses of legislative members appointed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for the performance of their duties under this act;

(ii)

Payment of the actual expenses of
Wyoming
legislators who attend the western states energy and environment symposium;

(iii)

The award of scholarships, fellowships or other financial aid or honoraria to provide for the attendance of select legislators and executive branch members from the other thirteen (13) western states at the symposium. At the direction of the steering committee, the legislative service office shall transfer funds from this appropriation to the
University
of
Wyoming
as necessary so that the
u
niversity may award the scholarships, fellowships or other financial aid or honoraria as provided under this paragraph.

Section 3.

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)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1