Senate Bill 25-283 Revised

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning the Colorado water conservation board

• Page 1, Line 102operations, and, in connection therewith, funding

• Page 1, Line 103projects and making an appropriation.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)

The bill appropriates the following amounts for the 2025-26 state fiscal year from the Colorado water conservation board (CWCB) construction fund to the CWCB or the division of water resources in the department of natural resources for the following projects:

• Continuation of the satellite monitoring system, $380,000 (section 1 of the bill);
• Continuation of the floodplain map modernization program, $500,000 (section 2);
• Continuation of the weather modification permitting program, $500,000 (section 3);
• Continuation of the Colorado Mesonet project, $200,000 (section 5);
• Continuation of the water forecasting partnership project, $2,000,000 (section 6);
• Continuation of the Arkansas river decision support program, $300,000 (section 7);
• Continuation of technical assistance for the federal irrigation improvement cost-sharing program, $500,000 (section 8);
• Decision support systems model enhancements to support the Colorado water plan, $1,000,000 (section 9);
• Support for the basin implementation plan analysis and updates, $4,500,000 (section 10);
• Continuation of the Colorado watershed restoration and wildfire ready watershed programs, $5,000,000 (section 11);
• Support for a statewide turf analysis, $1,400,000 (section 12);
• Support for the Yampa river and Walton creek confluence restoration project, $2,000,000 (section 14); and
• Support for the south fork focus zone irrigated acreage retirement, $6,000,000 (section 15);

Section 4 directs the state treasurer to transfer up to $2,000,000 from the CWCB construction fund to the CWCB litigation fund on July

1, 2025.

Section 13 directs the state treasurer to transfer $500,000 from the CWCB construction fund to the plant health, pest control, and environmental protection cash fund on July 1, 2025, and makes an appropriation of that amount to the department of agriculture for use by the conservation services division for the Colorado soil health program.

Section 16 authorizes the CWCB to make a loan in an amount of $12,978,500 from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the North Poudre Irrigation Company to support the park creek expansion project.

Section 17 appropriates $29,200,000 from the water plan implementation cash fund to the CWCB to award grants that will help implement the state water plan.

Sections 18, 19, 20, and 21 eliminate the office of water conservation under the CWCB and the water efficiency grant program, transfer remaining money from the water efficiency grant program cash fund to the severance tax perpetual base fund, and make conforming amendments accordingly.

Current law authorizes the governor to appoint a director of compact negotiations. Section 22 states that the governor or the executive director of the department of natural resources shall appoint the director of compact negotiations within 30 days after a vacancy of the position.

• Page 3, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 3, Line 2SECTION 1.  Continuation of the satellite monitoring system

• Page 3, Line 3- operation and maintenance - appropriation. (1)  For the 2025-26

• Page 3, Line 4state fiscal year, $380,000 is appropriated to the department of natural

• Page 3, Line 5resources for use by the division of water resources. This appropriation

• Page 3, Line 6is from the Colorado water conservation board construction fund created

• Page 3, Line 7in section 37-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the division of

• Page 3, Line 8water resources may use this appropriation to install, maintain, and

• Page 3, Line 9operate satellite-monitored stream gauges and lysimeters for water rights

• Page 3, Line 10administration and data collection pursuant to section 37-80-102 (10), C.R.S.

• Page 3, Line 11(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 3, Line 12SECTION 2.  Continuation of the Colorado floodplain map

• Page 3, Line 13modernization program - appropriation. (1)  For the 2025-26 state

• Page 3, Line 14fiscal year, $500,000 is appropriated to the department of natural

• Page 3, Line 15resources for use by the Colorado water conservation board. This

• Page 3, Line 16appropriation is from the Colorado water conservation board construction

• Page 3, Line 17fund created in section 37-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the

• Page 3, Line 18Colorado water conservation board may use this appropriation to continue

• Page 3, Line 19to assist with the preparation of revised and improved floodplain studies

• Page 3, Line 20and maps for communities throughout Colorado and participate in

• Page 3, Line 21federally sponsored floodplain map modernization activities.

• Page 4, Line 1(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 4, Line 2SECTION 3.  Continuation of the weather modification

• Page 4, Line 3permitting program - appropriation. (1)   For the 2025-26 state fiscal

• Page 4, Line 4year, $500,000 is appropriated to the department of natural resources for

• Page 4, Line 5use by the Colorado water conservation board. This appropriation is from

• Page 4, Line 6the Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in

• Page 4, Line 7section 37-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the Colorado water

• Page 4, Line 8conservation board may use this appropriation to assist water

• Page 4, Line 9conservation and conservancy districts with the development of cloud

• Page 4, Line 10seeding programs to provide benefits to recreation, streams, and reservoirs through snowpack enhancement.

• Page 4, Line 11(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 4, Line 12SECTION 4.  Restoration of litigation fund cash balance -

• Page 4, Line 13appropriation. On July 1, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer

• Page 4, Line 14$2,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary to restore the balance

• Page 4, Line 15of the litigation fund to $2,000,000, from the unreserved cash in the

• Page 4, Line 16Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in section

• Page 4, Line 1737-60-121, C.R.S., to the litigation fund created in section 37-60-121

• Page 4, Line 18(2.5), C.R.S., to assist in addressing legal issues associated with compact

• Page 4, Line 19compliance or any other litigation activities as specified under section 37-60-121, C.R.S.

• Page 4, Line 20SECTION 5.  Continuation of the Colorado Mesonet project

• Page 4, Line 21- appropriation. (1)  For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $200,000 is

• Page 4, Line 22appropriated to the department of natural resources for use by the

• Page 4, Line 23Colorado water conservation board. This appropriation is from the

• Page 5, Line 1Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in section

• Page 5, Line 237-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the Colorado water

• Page 5, Line 3conservation board may use this appropriation to support the Colorado

• Page 5, Line 4Mesonet, including for the following activities: Operation, maintenance,

• Page 5, Line 5travel, communications, and database and website management for temperature and precipitation stations.

• Page 5, Line 6(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 5, Line 7SECTION 6.  Continuation of the water forecasting

• Page 5, Line 8partnership project - appropriation. (1)  For the 2025-26 state fiscal

• Page 5, Line 9year, $2,000,000 is appropriated to the department of natural resources

• Page 5, Line 10for use by the Colorado water conservation board. This appropriation is

• Page 5, Line 11from the Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in

• Page 5, Line 12section 37-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the Colorado water

• Page 5, Line 13conservation board may use this appropriation to support the development

• Page 5, Line 14of new ground and aerial remote sensing data, to develop hydrologic

• Page 5, Line 15modeling practices, to provide reliable volumetric water supply forecasting, and to provide better characterization of snowpack.

• Page 5, Line 16(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 5, Line 17SECTION 7.  Continuation of the Arkansas river decision

• Page 5, Line 18support program - appropriation. (1)  For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,

• Page 5, Line 19$300,000 is appropriated to the department of natural resources for use

• Page 5, Line 20by the Colorado water conservation board. This appropriation is from the

• Page 5, Line 21Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in section

• Page 5, Line 2237-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the Colorado water

• Page 5, Line 23conservation board may use this appropriation to continue implementation

• Page 6, Line 1efforts identified in the Arkansas river decision support system (ArkDSS) feasibility study completed in December 2011.

• Page 6, Line 2(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 6, Line 3SECTION 8.  Continuation of technical assistance for federal

• Page 6, Line 4irrigation improvement cost-sharing program - appropriation.

• Page 6, Line 5(1)  For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $500,000 is appropriated to the

• Page 6, Line 6department of natural resources for use by the Colorado water

• Page 6, Line 7conservation board. This appropriation is from the Colorado water

• Page 6, Line 8conservation board construction fund created in section 37-60-121,

• Page 6, Line 9C.R.S. To implement this section, the Colorado water conservation board

• Page 6, Line 10may use this appropriation to provide technical assistance for applicants seeking competitive federal grant funds.

• Page 6, Line 11(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 6, Line 12SECTION 9.  Decision support systems model enhancements

• Page 6, Line 13to support the Colorado water plan - appropriation. (1)  For the

• Page 6, Line 142025-26 state fiscal year, $1,000,000 is appropriated to the department of

• Page 6, Line 15natural resources for use by the Colorado water conservation board. This

• Page 6, Line 16appropriation is from the Colorado water conservation board construction

• Page 6, Line 17fund created in section 37-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the

• Page 6, Line 18Colorado water conservation board may use this appropriation to support

• Page 6, Line 19efforts to refine and extend the existing decision support systems model and to complete technical updates to the Colorado water plan.

• Page 6, Line 20(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 6, Line 21SECTION 10.  Basin implementation plan analysis and

• Page 7, Line 1updates - appropriation. (1)  For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,

• Page 7, Line 2$4,500,000 is appropriated to the department of natural resources for use

• Page 7, Line 3by the Colorado water conservation board. This appropriation is from the

• Page 7, Line 4Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in section

• Page 7, Line 537-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the Colorado water

• Page 7, Line 6conservation board may use this appropriation to support updated efforts

• Page 7, Line 7to evaluate baseline data to determine existing and future water demand

• Page 7, Line 8and supply to develop an updated basin implementation plan for each of the 8 major river basins across the state.

• Page 7, Line 9(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 7, Line 10SECTION 11.  Continuation of the Colorado watershed

• Page 7, Line 11restoration program - appropriation. (1)  For the 2025-26 state fiscal

• Page 7, Line 12year, $5,000,000 is appropriated to the department of natural resources

• Page 7, Line 13for use by the Colorado water conservation board. This appropriation is

• Page 7, Line 14from the Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in

• Page 7, Line 15section 37-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the Colorado water

• Page 7, Line 16conservation board may use this appropriation to support planning,

• Page 7, Line 17engineering, and implementation measures to address technical needs for

• Page 7, Line 18watershed restoration and flood mitigation projects throughout the state

• Page 7, Line 19to provide aquatic habitat protection; quantification of environmental

• Page 7, Line 20flow needs; and monitoring of efforts to support healthy stream and watershed goals outlined in the state water plan.

• Page 7, Line 21(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 7, Line 22SECTION 12.  Statewide turf analysis - appropriation. (1)  For

• Page 7, Line 23the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $1,400,000 is appropriated to the department

• Page 8, Line 1of natural resources for use by the Colorado water conservation board.

• Page 8, Line 2This appropriation is from the Colorado water conservation board

• Page 8, Line 3construction fund created in section 37-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this

• Page 8, Line 4section, the Colorado water conservation board may use this

• Page 8, Line 5appropriation to conduct an analysis to answer key questions related to

• Page 8, Line 6understanding the total amount of irrigable turf, nonfunctional turf, tree

• Page 8, Line 7canopy, and other vegetation types in populated areas of the state to gain

• Page 8, Line 8a better understanding of outdoor and landscape water use and develop possible water savings practices related to turf replacement.

• Page 8, Line 9(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 8, Line 10SECTION 13.  Colorado department of agriculture - scaling

• Page 8, Line 11Colorado soil health- transfer - appropriation. (1)  On July 1, 2025, the

• Page 8, Line 12state treasurer shall transfer $500,000 from the Colorado water

• Page 8, Line 13conservation board construction fund created in section 37-60-121,

• Page 8, Line 14C.R.S., to the plant health, pest control, and environmental protection

• Page 8, Line 15cash fund created in section 35-1-106.3 (1), C.R.S., to assist in the continuation of the soil health program.

• Page 8, Line 16(2) (a)  For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $500,000 is appropriated

• Page 8, Line 17to the department of agriculture for use by the conservation services

• Page 8, Line 18division. This appropriation is from the plant health, pest control, and

• Page 8, Line 19environmental protection cash fund created in section 35-1-106.3 (1),

• Page 8, Line 20C.R.S. To implement this subsection (2)(a), the conservation services

• Page 8, Line 21division may use this appropriation to continue the Colorado soil health program to improve soil health throughout the state.

• Page 8, Line 22(b)  The money appropriated in subsection (2)(a) of this section

• Page 8, Line 23remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 9, Line 1SECTION 14.  Yampa river and Walton creek confluence

• Page 9, Line 2restoration - appropriation. (1)  For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,

• Page 9, Line 3$2,000,000 is appropriated to the department of natural resources for use

• Page 9, Line 4by the Colorado water conservation board. This appropriation is from the

• Page 9, Line 5Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in section

• Page 9, Line 637-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the Colorado water

• Page 9, Line 7conservation board may use this appropriation to conduct a large-scale

• Page 9, Line 8ecological river and wetland restoration project encompassing one

• Page 9, Line 9hundred five acres of channel, floodplain, and riparian improvements at the Yampa river and Walton creek confluence.

• Page 9, Line 10(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 9, Line 11SECTION 15.  South fork focus zone irrigated acreage

• Page 9, Line 12retirement - appropriation. (1)  For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,

• Page 9, Line 13$6,000,000 is appropriated to the department of natural resources for use

• Page 9, Line 14by the Colorado water conservation board. This appropriation is from the

• Page 9, Line 15Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in section

• Page 9, Line 1637-60-121, C.R.S. To implement this section, the Colorado water

• Page 9, Line 17conservation board may use this appropriation to support efforts to

• Page 9, Line 18comply with the republican river compact administration resolution by retiring irrigated acreage in the south fork focus zone by 2029.

• Page 9, Line 19(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 9, Line 20SECTION 16.  Water project loan authorization - park creek

• Page 9, Line 21reservoir expansion project. (1)  Pursuant to section 37-60-122 (1)(b),

• Page 9, Line 22C.R.S., the Colorado water conservation board is authorized to make a

• Page 9, Line 23loan in the amount of $12,978,500 from the severance tax perpetual base

• Page 10, Line 1fund created in section 39-29-109 (2)(a), C.R.S., to the North Poudre

• Page 10, Line 2Irrigation Company for the completion of the park creek reservoir expansion project.

• Page 10, Line 3(2)  The money authorized in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 10, Line 4(3)  The Colorado water conservation board may make loans for

• Page 10, Line 5the project specified in subsection (1) of this section from money that is

• Page 10, Line 6or may become available to the severance tax perpetual base fund. The

• Page 10, Line 7total amount of the loans will be in the amount listed in subsection (1) of

• Page 10, Line 8this section plus or minus the amount, if any, as may be justified by

• Page 10, Line 9reason of fluctuations in construction costs or as may be justified by

• Page 10, Line 10reason of changes in the plans for the project due to differing or

• Page 10, Line 11unforeseen site conditions, errors or omissions in the plans and

• Page 10, Line 12specifications, changes instituted by regulatory agencies, or changes in material quantities beyond contract limits.

• Page 10, Line 13SECTION 17.  Grant-making for projects that assist in

• Page 10, Line 14implementing the state water plan - appropriation. (1)  For the

• Page 10, Line 152025-26 state fiscal year, $29,200,000 is appropriated to the department

• Page 10, Line 16of natural resources for use by the Colorado water conservation board.

• Page 10, Line 17This appropriation is from the water plan implementation cash fund

• Page 10, Line 18created in section 37-60-123.3 (1)(a), C.R.S. To implement this

• Page 10, Line 19subsection (1), the Colorado water conservation board may use this

• Page 10, Line 20appropriation for grant-making for projects that assist in the

• Page 10, Line 21implementation of the state water plan pursuant to section 37-60-106.3

• Page 10, Line 22(6), C.R.S., through the Colorado water conservation board's application and guidelines process.

• Page 10, Line 23(2)  The money appropriated in subsection (1) of this section remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully expended.

• Page 11, Line 1SECTION 18.   In Colorado Revised Statutes, 37-60-124, amend (2) introductory portion and (3); and repeal (1) as follows:

• Page 11, Line 237-60-124.  Water conservation and drought mitigation

• Page 11, Line 3planning - powers and duties of board. (1)  There is hereby created as

• Page 11, Line 4an office under the Colorado water conservation board the office of water

• Page 11, Line 5conservation and drought planning. The office shall have such staff as are

• Page 11, Line 6necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties established for the office.

• Page 11, Line 7(2)  The office of water conservation and drought planning board

• Page 11, Line 8shall promote water conservation and drought mitigation planning by

• Page 11, Line 9performing and shall maintain as much staff as is required to

• Page 11, Line 10perform, to the degree feasible, duties including, but not limited to, the following:

• Page 11, Line 11(3)  The personal services, operating, travel and subsistence,

• Page 11, Line 12capital, and legal services expenses of administering the office of water

• Page 11, Line 13conservation and drought planning and the programs and activities

• Page 11, Line 14authorized by subsection (2) of this section may be paid from such

• Page 11, Line 15moneys as are money as is appropriated, allocated, or otherwise credited to the Colorado water conservation board construction fund.

• Page 11, Line 16SECTION 19.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 37-60-126, amend

• Page 11, Line 17(2)(a), (2)(b), (3), (6), (7), (8), and (12)(c); repeal (1)(c) and (1)(d); and add (12)(b.7) as follows:

• Page 11, Line 1837-60-126.  Water conservation and drought mitigation

• Page 11, Line 19planning - programs - relationship to state assistance for water

• Page 11, Line 20facilities - guidelines - grant program - definitions - repeal. (1)  As

• Page 11, Line 21used in this section and section 37-60-126.5, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 12, Line 1(c)  "Grant program" means the water efficiency grant program established pursuant to subsection (12) of this section.

• Page 12, Line 2(d)  "Office" means the office of water conservation and drought planning created in section 37-60-124.

• Page 12, Line 3(2) (a)  Each A covered entity shall, subject to section 37-60-127,

• Page 12, Line 4develop, adopt, make publicly available, and implement a plan pursuant

• Page 12, Line 5to which such the covered entity shall encourage its domestic,

• Page 12, Line 6commercial, industrial, and public facility customers to use water more

• Page 12, Line 7efficiently. Any A state or local governmental entity that is not a covered

• Page 12, Line 8entity may develop, adopt, make publicly available, and implement such a plan.

• Page 12, Line 9(b)  The office board shall review previously submitted

• Page 12, Line 10conservation plans to evaluate their consistency with the provisions of

• Page 12, Line 11this section and the guidelines established pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (7) subsection (7)(a) of this section.

• Page 12, Line 12(3)  The manner in which the covered entity develops, adopts,

• Page 12, Line 13makes publicly available, and implements a plan established pursuant to

• Page 12, Line 14subsection (2) of this section shall be determined by the covered entity in

• Page 12, Line 15accordance with this section. The plan shall must be accompanied by a

• Page 12, Line 16schedule for its implementation. The plans and schedules shall be

• Page 12, Line 17provided to the office board within ninety days after their adoption. For

• Page 12, Line 18those entities seeking financial assistance, the office board shall then

• Page 12, Line 19notify the covered entity and the appropriate financing authority that the

• Page 12, Line 20plan has been reviewed and whether the plan has been approved in accordance with this section.

• Page 12, Line 21(6)  The board is hereby authorized to recommend the

• Page 13, Line 1appropriation and expenditure of revenues as are necessary from the

• Page 13, Line 2unobligated balance of the five percent share of the severance tax

• Page 13, Line 3operational fund designated for use by the board for the purpose of the

• Page 13, Line 4office providing assistance to covered entities to develop water conservation plans that meet the provisions of this section.

• Page 13, Line 5(7) (a)  The board shall adopt guidelines for the office to review

• Page 13, Line 6water conservation plans submitted by covered entities and other state or

• Page 13, Line 7local governmental entities. The guidelines shall must define the method

• Page 13, Line 8for submitting plans to the office board, the methods for office review

• Page 13, Line 9and approval of the plans, and the interest rate surcharge provided for in paragraph (a) of subsection (9) subsection (9)(a) of this section.

• Page 13, Line 10(b)  If no other applicable guidelines exist as of June 1, 2007, The

• Page 13, Line 11board shall adopt guidelines by July 31, 2007, for the office to use in

• Page 13, Line 12reviewing may review and award grants pursuant to applications

• Page 13, Line 13submitted by covered entities, other state or local governmental entities,

• Page 13, Line 14and agencies for grants from the grant program and from the grant

• Page 13, Line 15program established in section 37-60-126.5 (3). The guidelines shall

• Page 13, Line 16establish deadlines and procedures for covered entities, other state or

• Page 13, Line 17local governmental entities, and agencies to follow in applying for grants

• Page 13, Line 18and the criteria to be used by the office and the board in prioritizing and awarding grants 37-60-106.3 (6).

• Page 13, Line 19(8)  A covered entity may at any time adopt changes to an

• Page 13, Line 20approved plan in accordance with this section after notifying and

• Page 13, Line 21receiving concurrence from the office board. If the proposed changes are

• Page 13, Line 22major, the covered entity shall give public notice of the changes, make the

• Page 13, Line 23changes available in draft form, and provide the public an opportunity to

• Page 13, Line 24comment on such changes before adopting them in accordance with subsection (5) of this section.

• Page 14, Line 1(12) (b.7)  On June 30, 2026, the state treasurer shall

• Page 14, Line 2transfer any money remaining in the water efficiency grant

• Page 14, Line 3program cash fund to the severance tax perpetual base fund created in section 39-29-109 (2)(a).

• Page 14, Line 4(c)  This subsection (12) is repealed, effective July 1, 2030 2026.

• Page 14, Line 5SECTION 20.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 37-60-126.5, amend (2), (3), and (4) as follows:

• Page 14, Line 637-60-126.5.  Drought mitigation planning - programs -

• Page 14, Line 7relationship to state assistance. (2)  The office board shall develop

• Page 14, Line 8programs to provide technical assistance to covered entities and other

• Page 14, Line 9state or local governmental entities in the development of drought mitigation plans.

• Page 14, Line 10(3)  The board is hereby authorized to expend revenues from the

• Page 14, Line 11water efficiency grant program cash fund and to recommend the

• Page 14, Line 12appropriation and expenditure of the revenues as is necessary from the

• Page 14, Line 13unobligated balance of the five-percent share of the severance tax

• Page 14, Line 14operational fund designated for use by the board for the purpose of

• Page 14, Line 15assisting covered entities and other state or local governmental entities to

• Page 14, Line 16develop drought mitigation plans that the office board identifies as sufficient.

• Page 14, Line 17(4)  The board shall adopt guidelines for the office to use in

• Page 14, Line 18reviewing, evaluating, and approving drought mitigation plans submitted

• Page 14, Line 19by covered entities or other state or local governmental entities in accordance with this section.

• Page 14, Line 20SECTION 21.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-29-109, amend

• Page 14, Line 21(2)(a)(II.5)(B), (2)(a)(II.5)(C), and (2)(b)(III); and repeal (2)(a)(II.5)(D) as follows:

• Page 15, Line 139-29-109.  Severance tax trust fund - created - administration

• Page 15, Line 2- distribution of money - legislative declaration - repeal. (2)  State

• Page 15, Line 3severance tax receipts must be credited to the severance tax trust fund as

• Page 15, Line 4provided in section 39-29-108. All income derived from the deposit and

• Page 15, Line 5investment of the money in the fund must be credited to the fund. At the

• Page 15, Line 6end of any fiscal year, all unexpended and unencumbered money in the

• Page 15, Line 7fund remains in the fund and must not be credited or transferred to the

• Page 15, Line 8general fund or any other fund. All money in the fund is subject to appropriation by the general assembly for the following purposes:

• Page 15, Line 9(a)  The severance tax perpetual base fund. (II.5)  The board shall use the money in the fund:

• Page 15, Line 10(B)  To direct the state treasurer to transfer amounts to the water supply reserve fund created in subsection (2)(c) of this section; and

• Page 15, Line 11(C)  To direct the state treasurer to transfer amounts to the

• Page 15, Line 12interbasin compact committee operation fund created in section 37-75-107. and

• Page 15, Line 13(D)  To direct the state treasurer to transfer amounts to the water efficiency grant program cash fund created in section 37-60-126 (12).

• Page 15, Line 14(b)  The severance tax operational fund. (III)  The fund also

• Page 15, Line 15includes amounts that were transferred to natural resources and energy

• Page 15, Line 16grant programs under section 39-29-109.3 and that were transferred back

• Page 15, Line 17to the fund in accordance with subsection (2)(c)(V) of this section and sections 24-33-111 (2)(a)(I)(C) 37-60-126 (12)(a)(V), and 37-75-107 (3).

• Page 15, Line 18SECTION 22.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 37-75-103, amend (1) and (2)(b) as follows:

• Page 15, Line 1937-75-103.  Director of compact negotiations. (1)  Within thirty

• Page 16, Line 1days after June 7, 2005 a vacancy, the governor or the executive

• Page 16, Line 2director of the department of natural resources shall appoint a

• Page 16, Line 3director of compact negotiations. which office is hereby created in the

• Page 16, Line 4office of the governor. The director of compact negotiations shall act as

• Page 16, Line 5the overseer and caretaker of the compact negotiations process established in this article article 75.

• Page 16, Line 6(2)  The director of compact negotiations shall have the following responsibilities:

• Page 16, Line 7(b)  Oversee and Direct the expenditure of moneys money appropriated pursuant to this article article 75; and

• Page 16, Line 8SECTION 23.  Safety clause. The general assembly finds,

• Page 16, Line 9determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate

• Page 16, Line 10preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for

• Page 16, Line 11the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.