Chapter 984 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

AN ACT

SB 93

Relating to water; appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. Sections 2 and 3 of this 1999 Act are added to and made a part of ORS chapter 536.

SECTION 2. (1) The Legislative Assembly finds that the availability of an adequate water supply is essential to the continued health and safety of all Oregonians.

(2) The Legislative Assembly declares that it is the policy of the State of Oregon to ensure a water supply sufficient to meet the needs of existing and future beneficial uses of water, and to adequately manage the state's water resources. Further, in recognition of this policy, the Legislative Assembly declares that the planning and management of the water resources of this state shall be conducted in a consistent and coordinated manner.

SECTION 3. (1) There is created a Joint Task Force on Water Supply and Conservation consisting of 11 members. The President of the Senate shall appoint one member from among members of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member from among the members of the House of Representatives and the Governor shall appoint one member from the general public. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Governor shall appoint eight additional members representing the following interests:

(a) Two from agricultural water users and suppliers;

(b) Two from municipal and industrial water users and suppliers;

(c) Two from environmental and fishing interests; and

(d) Two from other interested stakeholder groups, at least one of whom represents in-stream interests.

(2) The members of the task force shall select the chairperson of the task force.

(3) In consultation with the Water Resources Department, the task force shall develop recommendations relating to the process of siting and funding future water supply projects. In developing the recommendations, the task force shall:

(a) Review existing public programs relating to water supply and develop recommendations to maximize coordination and cooperation among governmental entities to address economic, environmental and permitting needs;

(b) Review and develop recommendations on public financing options for water supply projects;

(c) Analyze and evaluate current opportunities for programs that result in conservation and other department programs that contribute to water supply for all beneficial uses of the water resources of this state;

(d) Identify impediments to the implementation of conservation programs and recommend policies to eliminate those impediments;

(e) Evaluate the need for additional information considered beneficial for the development of water storage as well as for incentives for the development and implementation of conservation measures; and

(f) Evaluate the role of the department and other entities in planning for and meeting long-term water supply needs, including an evaluation of the department's existing basin planning program described in ORS chapter 536.

(4) In developing the recommendations under subsection (3) of this section, the task force may appoint a technical advisory committee to provide assistance on issues related to water supply and conservation. Members of the technical advisory committee may include, but need not be limited to:

(a) A hydrologist;

(b) An economist;

(c) An urban or rural planner; or

(d) A biologist.

(5) Members of the Legislative Assembly shall be entitled to an allowance as authorized by ORS 171.072. Claims for expenses incurred in performing functions of the task force shall be paid out of funds appropriated for that purpose.

(6) All agencies, departments and officers of this state are directed to assist the task force in the performance of its functions and to furnish such information and advice as the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their functions.

(7) Subject to the approval of the Emergency Board, the task force may accept contributions of funds and assistance from the United States Government, its agencies or any other source, public or private, and may agree to conditions thereon not inconsistent with the purposes of the task force. All such funds are to aid in financing the functions of the task force and shall be deposited in the General Fund of the State Treasury to the credit of a separate account for the task force and shall be disbursed in the same manner as funds appropriated for the task force.

(8) Recommendations by the task force created under this section shall be based on a two-thirds majority of the task force. The task force may develop majority and minority reports. All legislation recommended by official action of the task force must indicate that it is introduced at the request of the task force. Such legislation shall be prepared in time for presession numbering and presession filing pursuant to ORS 171.130.

(9) The task force shall submit its initial recommendations in a report to the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly.

(10) The task force shall submit its final recommendations to the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly.

SECTION 4. In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropriated to the Water Resources Department, for the biennium beginning July 1, 1999, out of the General Fund, the amount of $100,000 for the purpose of carrying out this 1999 Act.

SECTION 5. This 1999 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 1999 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor August 20, 1999

Filed in the office of Secretary of State August 23, 1999

Effective date August 20, 1999

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