Water strategic plan.

2017
STATE OF WYOMING
17LSO-0664
Introduced
1.2

SENATE FILE

NO.

SF0163

Water strategic plan.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Von Flatern and Bebout and Representative(s) Barlow

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to administration of the government; providing for the development, review, revision, adoption and monitoring of a state biennial water strategy; creating a water strategy committee; delegating duties to the new committee, the water development commission and the governor; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
22
5
is created to read:

9
‑
1
‑
22
5
.

Water strategic plan;
definitions;
committee;
powers and
duties.

(a)

As used in this section:

(i)

"Biennial water strategy" means the coordinated and comprehensive biennial planning activities of state departments, boards, commissions and agencies to manage, develop, conserve and protect water and to restore watersheds for the highest benefit
of citizens;

(
i
i)

"Water management, development and conservation agencies" means the water development commission, state engineer's office, department of environmental quality, Wyoming game and fish department and other departments, boards and agencies as the governor designates
.

(b)

The governor shall:

(
i
)

Appoint a water strategy committee consisting of one (1) member of each of the boards and commissions of the water management, development and conservation agencies;

(ii)

Appoint or r
eappoint
committee members

for staggered terms not to exceed

four
(
4
) years
each;

(i
i
i)

Be a member of the committee
or appoint a designee
.

(
c
)

The water development commission shall:

(i)

Convene the water strategy committee, representatives of the federal government and its agencies, various individuals and interest and user groups to
elicit
their views regarding
the
status of existing programs and initiatives and
the
development of new recommendations for a biennial water strategy;

(ii)

Coordinate the efforts of the water strategy committee to review comments obtained
under
paragraph (i) of this subsection and other sources of information and to prepare a biennial water strategy. The
biennial
water strategy shall identify water management,
development and conservation agencies responsible for executing initiatives.

(
d
)

The water
strategy committee
shall:

(
i
)

Review, revise or adopt the
biennial
water strategy;

(ii)

Monitor implementation of the
biennial
water strategy by water management, development and conservation
agencies and provide regular progress reports to the
joint
agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee;

(iii)

Recommend to the governor budget requests from water management, development and conservation agencies as they carry out water strategy initiatives;

(iv)

By August
30, 2019, and every two
(2)
years thereafter,
prepare and submit
the biennial water strategy
to the legislature, through the
joint
agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee
.

Section

2
.

This
act is effective July 1,
201
7
.

(END)

1
SF0163