Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 257 First Substitute (2018GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Knotwell, J.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/19/2018

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• creates the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Coordinating Committee;
• provides for membership of the committee;
• describes the purpose of the committee as facilitating a buffer zone around Camp Williams in order to maintain the mission of the base;
• requires an annual report to the governor and Legislature; and
• creates the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Fund.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

SENTINEL LANDSCAPE DESIGNATION
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: John Knotwell
Senate Sponsor: 
Howard A. Stephenson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill establishes the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Act.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ creates the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Coordinating Committee;
▸ provides for membership of the committee;
▸ describes the purpose of the committee as facilitating a buffer zone around Camp
Williams in order to maintain the mission of the base;
▸ requires an annual report to the governor and Legislature; and
▸ creates the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Fund.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
39-10-101
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39-10-102
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39-10-103
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39-10-104
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39-10-105
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
39-10-101
 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 10. WEST TRAVERSE SENTINEL LANDSCAPE ACT
 39-10-101.
Title -- West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Act -- Purpose.
(1) This chapter is known as "West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Act."
(2) The purpose of this act is to:
(a) identify lands adjacent to Camp Williams that are important to the nation's defense
mission;
(b) preserve and enhance the relationship between adjacent landowners and Camp
Williams; and
(c) create incentives to encourage adjacent landowners to adopt land management
practices consistent with Camp Williams's military mission.
Section 2. Section 
39-10-102
 is enacted to read:
 39-10-102.
Area designation -- West Traverse Sentinel Landscape.
(1) The compatible use buffer area surrounding Camp Williams shall be known as the
West Traverse Sentinel Landscape.
(2) Lands designated by the committee established in Section 
39-10-103
 and lands
acquired or encumbered through the Camp Williams Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB)
Program shall be added to the buffer area.
Section 3. Section 
39-10-103
 is enacted to read:
 39-10-103.
West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Coordinating Committee.
(1) There is created the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Coordinating Committee.
(2) The committee shall be composed of the following members:
(a) the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard or another senior officer appointed
by the adjutant general;
(b) the executive director of the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs or the
director's designee;
(c) a landowner, selected by the chair, who owns property within the sentinel landscape
area;
(d) a representative from a land conservation organization in Utah recognized as
accredited under the standards and practices of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission;
(e) a representative from each municipality adjacent to Camp Williams, at the
discretion of the municipality;
(f) one representative each from Salt Lake, Utah, and Tooele counties, at the discretion
of the county governing body;
(g) a representative from a nongovernmental land management organization; and
(h) one member selected from a state agency that participates in land management
activities.
(3) Committee members shall be selected and serve in accordance with this Subsection
(3).
(a) The committee member representing Subsection (2)(c) shall be selected by the chair
from a list of nominees presented by local officials.
(b) The committee members representing Subsections (2)(d) and (g) shall be invited to
participate by the chair with the approval of a majority of the committee.
(c) Each incorporated municipality bordering Camp Williams shall, at its discretion no
later than July 1 of each year, provide the chair with the name of the individual who will
represent the municipality on the committee, as provided in Subsection (2)(e). If the
municipality declines to be represented on the committee, it shall send a letter to the chair on
the municipality's letterhead stating that no individual will be appointed.
(d) If a county, as provided in Subsection (2)(f), declines to be represented on the
committee, it shall send a letter to the chair on the county's letterhead not later than July 1 of
each year stating that no individual will be appointed.
(e) The committee chair shall request the appointment of members representing
Subsection (2)(h) from:
(i) the governor if the request is for a member from a state agency; or
(ii) the mayor or governing body of a local government entity if the request is for a
member from a local government agency.
(4) The adjutant general or his appointee shall serve as chair of the committee.
(5) The committee shall meet at the call of the chair, but not less than twice each
calendar year.
(6) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service but
may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
(a) Section 
63A-3-106
;
(b) Section 
63A-3-107
; and
(c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 
63A-3-106
 and
63A-3-107
.
(7) The Utah National Guard shall provide staff support for the committee.
Section 4. Section 
39-10-104
 is enacted to read:
 39-10-104.
Committee responsibilities.
(1) The committee shall:
(a) identify lands to be included in the designated sentinel landscape;
(b) develop strategies and recommendations to encourage landowners within the
sentinel landscape to voluntarily participate in and begin or continue land uses compatible with
Camp Williams's military mission; and
(c) publish any policies and procedures as administrative rules in accordance with Title
63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
(2) In designating sentinel lands, the coordinating committee shall include all working
or natural lands that the coordinating committee believes contribute to the long-term
sustainability of the military missions conducted at Camp Williams.
(3) The committee shall determine the appropriate level of state resources required to
adequately protect Camp Williams's military mission and may apply for grants from the LeRay
McAllister Critical Lands Conservation Program to aid in securing those resources.
(4) In determining lands to designate, the coordinating committee shall seek input
from:
(a) the director of the Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection
Integration Program; and
(b) the director of the National Guard Bureau Army Compatible Use Buffer Program,
as authorized under 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2684(a).
(5) The committee shall provide a written report of its activities if state funds are
expended during the previous calendar year no later than July 31 annually to:
(a) the governor;
(b) the Government Operations Interim Committee; and
(c) the Executive Appropriations Committee.
Section 5. Section 
39-10-105
 is enacted to read:
 39-10-105.
West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Fund.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Committee" means the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Coordinating
Committee created in Section 
39-10-103
.
(b) "Fund" means the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape Fund.
(2) There is created a restricted account within the General Fund known as the West
Traverse Sentinel Landscape Fund.
(3) The fund shall consist of:
(a) appropriations from the Legislature; and
(b) grants or donations from other public or private sources.
(4) The fund shall be administered by the Utah National Guard and the committee.
(5) The purpose of the fund shall be to provide:
(a) matching funds for established federal funding programs concerning sentinel
landscapes;
(b) matching funds for local and private funding programs that assist with sentinel
landscape designations; and
(c) incentives for landowners who voluntarily participate in land management practices
that are consistent with Camp Williams's military missions.
(6) The committee may make an appropriation request through the Utah National
Guard to the Legislature for necessary funds to carry out the committee's purpose.
(7) Upon appropriation, funds may only be used for landscapes that qualify under:
(a) the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program guidelines or similar regulations as a
federal program whose purpose is to secure landscapes that serve to buffer military
installations;
(b) Internal Revenue Code guidelines in 26 U.S.C. Sec. 170(h); or
(c) local municipal or county guidelines established through the committee and
consistent with Camp Williams's military mission.
(8) Funds used for projects with matching federal funding may not exceed a 25%
match with federal funds.