Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 62 First Substitute (2024GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Owens, D.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/12/2024

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• outlines coordination related to water and the public education system; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

UTAH WATER WAYS AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Doug Owens
Senate Sponsor: 
 Scott D. Sandall
LONG TITLE
Committee Note:
The Legislative Water Development Commission recommended this bill.
Membership: 13 legislators 11 non-legislators
Total Vote: 5 voting for 3 voting against 5 absent
Legislative Vote: 5 voting for 3 voting against 5 absent
General Description:
This bill addresses the partnership of Utah Water Ways.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ outlines coordination related to water and the public education system; and
▸ makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
79-2-408
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 163
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
79-2-408
 is amended to read:
79-2-408.
Utah Water Ways.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Partnership" means the nonprofit, statewide partnership described in Subsections
(2) and (3).
(b) "Water supply entity" means an entity supplying either culinary or irrigation water
to a water user.
(2) The department shall oversee:
(a) the creation of a nonprofit, statewide partnership in accordance with this section;
and
(b) the state's participation in the partnership.
(3) The partnership shall:
(a) be known as "Utah Water Ways";
(b) have as core purposes to:
(i) facilitate coordination of efforts to optimize the use of water by:
(A) sponsoring policy discussions about the state's water supply;
(B) engaging the private sector to help support efforts to optimize the use of water and
related activities;
(C) coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of
Environmental Quality on water related issues;
(D) maintaining communication among partners in the partnership;
(E) providing a line of communication from partners to state leaders; and
(F) promoting coordination of grants, rebate programs, or sponsorships that support the
optimal use of water; and
(ii) encourage residents of the state to make changes to optimize the use of water and
care for the state's water supply by:
(A) providing public education and public awareness campaigns and helping
consolidate campaigns about the state's water supply, water quality, and water use; and
(B) providing residents of the state with tools to understand what can be done to
optimize the use of water; [
and
]
(c) consistent with Subsection (3)(b)(ii)(A), coordinate with the State Board of
Education to create standards-aligned resources and professional development opportunities to
be used in select grades in kindergarten through grade 12 of the public education system,
including:
(i) an overview of the water cycle;
(ii) an overview of Utah's water systems, including reference to watersheds, watershed
health, groundwater, river systems, and major water infrastructure;
(iii) an overview on how water is used in Utah, including in the residential,
agricultural, and industrial sectors;
(iv) strategies for individuals to protect water quality;
(v) strategies for individuals to optimize the use of water, and the reasons optimization
is needed; and
(vi) hands-on methods to help students learn the information described in this
Subsection (3)(c); and
[
(c)
] 
(d)
 seek grants, gifts, donations, devises, and bequests.
(4) The board of directors for the partnership shall:
(a) consist of 13 individuals as follows:
(i) the executive director of the department, or the executive director's designee;
(ii) the director of the Division of Water Resources, or the director's designee;
(iii) the executive director of the Department of Environmental Quality, or the
executive director's designee;
(iv) the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food, or the
commissioner's designee;
(v) a representative of rural Utah selected jointly by the governor, the speaker of the
House of Representatives, and the president of the Senate;
(vi) the general managers for four water conservancy districts selected jointly by the
governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the president of the Senate; and
(vii) four members of the business community selected jointly by the governor, the
speaker of the House of Representatives, and the president of the Senate;
(b) hire an executive director by August 1, 2023, who shall serve for an initial term of
four years; and
(c) adopt policies concerning the board of directors' internal organization and
procedures.
(5) The partnership may, consistent with this section, receive a grant, gift, donation,
devise, or bequest.
(6) The partnership shall annually report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
Environment Interim Committee.
(7) Notwithstanding the creation of the partnership, a water supply entity may maintain
an important role with water supply users to encourage the optimized use of water such as
through localized messaging, rebate programs, or other activities.
Section 2. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.