Back to Wyoming

SF0028 • 2024

Federal natural resource management coordinator.

AN ACT relating to administration of the government; authorizing a position within the governor's office; specifying duties for the newly authorized position; repealing the existing coordinator of state-federal relations position; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Labor
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Fed Nat Res
Last action
2024-02-13
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2024

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, and there is no official summary text provided.

Federal Natural Resource Management Coordinator

The bill creates a new position within the governor's office to manage federal natural resources and provides funding for this role.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a new position called 'Federal Natural Resource Management Coordinator' within the governor's office.
  • Specifies that the coordinator will review federal actions affecting Wyoming’s natural resources, coordinate with state agencies on land exchanges, and protect against federal overreach.
  • Establishes an incentive program to reward state employees who help protect Wyoming's interests from federal interference.
  • Repeals the existing 'Coordinator of State-Federal Relations' position.
  • Allocates $10 million from the general fund for the new coordinator’s salary and related expenses.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The governor and their office
  • State employees involved in natural resource management
  • Federal agencies managing land in Wyoming

Terms To Know

Governor's Office
The administrative body that supports the governor of a state.
Overreach
When an organization or entity tries to control something beyond its legal authority.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was introduced but failed on February 13, 2024.
  • It is unclear how the new position will interact with existing state agencies and federal entities.
  • The specific details of the incentive program for employees are left undefined.

Bill History

  1. 2024-02-13 Senate

    S Failed Introduction 10-21-0-0-0

  2. 2024-01-24 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  3. 2023-12-18 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
24LSO-0296
2024
STATE OF WYOMING
24LSO-0296
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0028

Federal natural resource management coordinator.

Sponsored by: Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to administration of the government; authorizing a position within the governor's office; specifying duties for the newly authorized position; repealing the existing coordinator of state-federal relations position; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
225 is created to read:

9
‑
1
‑
225.

Federal natural resource management coordinator; duties.

(a)

The governor shall employ a federal natural resource management coordinator with the annual advice and consent of the senate, in accordance with W.S. 28
‑
12
‑
101 through 28
‑
12
‑
103. The coordinator shall serve a term of four (4) years and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. If a vacancy occurs, the governor shall appoint a successor in accordance with W.S. 28
‑
12
‑
101(b).

(b)

The coordinator shall:

(i)

Review all federal legislative and administrative acts for impacts to Wyoming's federal natural resource interests;

(ii)

Coordinate with the office of state lands and investments and the board of land commissioners to explore land exchanges between the state and federal government;

(iii)

Coordinate with all state departments, boards, commissions and agencies, the legislature and local governments to protect the state from federal government overreach into state and local federal natural resource interests;

(iv)

Administer an incentive program that shall incentivize employees of the state who protect the state's federal natural resource interests from federal overreach. The incentive program may include bonuses or promotions for participating state employees with the approval of the governor in consultation with the affected agency director;

(v)

Recruit and, if funding is available, offer signing bonuses to state employees who are hired directly from federal land management agencies;

(vi)

Carry out all duties the governor assigns pertaining to protecting Wyoming's federal natural resource interests against federal government overreach.

Section 2.

W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
209 is repealed.

Section 3
.

(a)

The office of the governor is authorized one (1) full
‑
time position to fill the federal natural resource management coordinator position required by this act.

(b)

There is appropriated ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) from the general fund to the office of the governor for purposes of funding the position authorized by subsection (a) of this section and for implementing this act for the period beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation on June 30, 2026 shall revert as provided by law.

(c)

It is the intent of the legislature that the position authorized in subsection (a) of this section and the appropriation for that position be included in the standard budget for the office of the governor for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

Section 4.

On or after July 1, 2024 the governor shall employ a federal natural resource management coordinator in accordance with W.S. 28
‑
12
‑
101 through 28
‑
12
‑
103. The federal natural resource management coordinator's first term shall commence after senate confirmation during the 2025 general legislative session.

Section 5
.

This act is effective July 1, 2024
.

(END)

1
SF0028