Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 131 (2022GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Bennion, G.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2022

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• creates the Watershed Restoration Initiative within the Department of Natural Resources;
• sets the policies and objectives of the initiative;
• describes how the initiative will be administered and funded;
• requires the initiative to submit an annual report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee; and
• creates the Watershed Restoration Expendable Special Revenue Fund.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

WATERSHED RESTORATION INITIATIVE
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Gay Lynn Bennion
Senate Sponsor: 
Evan J. Vickers
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates the Watershed Restoration Initiative within the Department of Natural
Resources.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ creates the Watershed Restoration Initiative within the Department of Natural
Resources;
▸ sets the policies and objectives of the initiative;
▸ describes how the initiative will be administered and funded;
▸ requires the initiative to submit an annual report to the Natural Resources,
Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee; and
▸ creates the Watershed Restoration Expendable Special Revenue Fund.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
79-2-601
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
79-2-602
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
79-2-603
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
79-2-604
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
79-2-605
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
79-2-606
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
79-2-601
 is enacted to read:
Part 6. WATERSHED RESTORATION INITIATIVE
 79-2-601.
Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Administrative costs" means the costs of administering the initiative, including
costs for staffing, rent, data processing, legal, finance, accounting, travel, maintenance, and
office supplies.
(2) "Director" means the director of the initiative who is appointed under Section
79-2-602
.
(3) "Division" means the Division of Wildlife Resources created in Section 
23-14-1
.
(4) "Initiative" means the Watershed Restoration Initiative created in Section 
79-2-602
.
(5) "Restoration" means to assist the recovery of ecosystems and ecosystem services
that have been mismanaged, degraded, or destroyed.
(6) "Watershed" means the geographical surface area that drains water into a stream,
river, or other body of water.
Section 2. Section 
79-2-602
 is enacted to read:
 79-2-602.
Watershed Restoration Initiative -- Creation -- Objectives.
(1) There is created within the department the Watershed Restoration Initiative under
the general supervision of the executive director.
(2) The policies and objectives of the initiative are to manage, restore, and improve
watershed ecosystems throughout the state by focusing on improving:
(a) watershed health and biological diversity;
(b) water quality and yield; and
(c) opportunities for sustainable uses of natural resources.
(3) Consistent with this part, the initiative may integrate, coordinate, or partner with
federal, state, local, private, and non-profit plans and programs to further the initiative's
objectives.
(4) To achieve and implement the policies and objectives under Subsection (2), the
initiative shall:
(a) develop and oversee a watershed restoration project proposal process to develop
statewide watershed restoration priorities, including ranking criteria;
(b) maintain a website that includes:
(i) an events calendar;
(ii) tracking of watershed restoration projects;
(iii) a description of the watershed restoration project proposal process, including
applicable ranking criteria; and
(iv) the name and contact information of each person with decision-making
responsibilities related to ranking and selecting watershed restoration project proposals;
(c) organize and oversee a biennial statewide watershed restoration workshop;
(d) assign funding to watershed restoration projects, and manage and track project
budgets;
(e) provide initiative partners with contract support, reporting, and tracking assistance
regarding incoming and outgoing watershed restoration project funds;
(f) ensure that watershed restoration projects meet applicable cultural resource
requirements;
(g) upon request and as appropriate, provide performance reporting and initiative
information to the media, partners, and the executive and legislative branches of state
government;
(h) prepare and provide training and technical support for watershed restoration project
managers; and
(i) provide the executive director with reports and recommendations regarding the
initiative's performance and funding.
Section 3. Section 
79-2-603
 is enacted to read:
 79-2-603.
Director -- Appointment -- Qualifications -- Staff.
(1) The executive director shall appoint a director to administer the initiative.
(2) The director shall:
(a) be the executive and administrative head of the initiative; and
(b) have demonstrated the necessary administrative and professional ability through
education and experience to efficiently and effectively manage the initiative's affairs.
(3) The director is appointed by the executive director.
(4) (a) The department shall staff the initiative.
(b) With approval of the executive director and the division director, and under the
direction of the director, division staff with relevant expertise or experience may assist the
director with administering the initiative.
Section 4. Section 
79-2-604
 is enacted to read:
 79-2-604.
Funding.
The initiative is funded from the following sources:
(1) appropriations made to the initiative by the Legislature; and
(2) contributions, including in-kind assistance, from other public and private sources.
Section 5. Section 
79-2-605
 is enacted to read:
 79-2-605.
Reporting.
The initiative shall prepare and submit to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
Environment Interim Committee, on or before November 1 of each year, an annual report that
includes:
(1) by source, the initiative's total annual resources, including partner funds;
(2) the initiative's historical annual funding amounts from year to year;
(3) the total amount of state funding used to leverage non-state partner resources;
(4) the total administrative costs related to the initiative, including the costs of each
initiative partner that receives funds through the initiative; and
(5) performance metrics that demonstrate the initiative's impact and effectiveness.
Section 6. Section 
79-2-606
 is enacted to read:
 79-2-606.
Watershed Restoration Expendable Special Revenue Fund -- Creation --
Source of funds -- Use of funds.
(1) As used in this section, "fund" means the Watershed Restoration Expendable
Special Revenue Fund created in Subsection (2).
(2) There is created an expendable special revenue fund known as the "Watershed
Restoration Expendable Special Revenue Fund."
(3) The fund consists of:
(a) gifts, grants, donations, contributions, or any other conveyance of money that may
be made to the fund from public or private sources; and
(b) interest and earnings on fund money.
(4) The state treasurer shall:
(a) invest money in the fund in accordance with the Title 51, Chapter 7, State Money
Management Act; and
(b) deposit interest and earnings derived from investing fund money into the fund.
(5) The director may only use fund money for a watershed restoration project
designated or approved by the donor.