Assembly Bill No. 82–Assemblyman Mortenson

 

February 13, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Natural Resources,
Agriculture, and Mining

 

SUMMARY—Extends date of expiration of Newlands Project Water Rights Fund and related program for acquisition of certain surface water rights. (BDR S‑346)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to water; extending the date of expiration of the Newlands Project Water Rights Fund and of a related program established by the Carson Water Subconservancy District for the acquisition of certain surface water rights; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1. Section 4 of chapter 515, Statutes of Nevada 1999,

1-2  at page 2632, is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3  Sec. 4.  1.  There is hereby appropriated from the State

1-4  General Fund to the Newlands Project Water Rights Fund,

1-5  created by section 5 of this act, the sum of $3,300,000 as the

1-6  State’s contribution to the Fund for the protection and

1-7  preservation of the natural resources of this state. All interest

1-8  generated from this appropriation accrues to the benefit of the

1-9  Newlands Project Water Rights Fund.

1-10      2.  The Carson Water Subconservancy District shall not

1-11  commit for expenditure any amount of the appropriation

1-12  made by subsection 1 until the District determines that:

1-13      (a) There is and will continue to be substantial

1-14  compliance with the “Joint Testimony of Truckee-Carson

2-1  Irrigation District, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Indians, City

2-2  of Fallon, Churchill County and Sierra Pacific Power

2-3  Company,” dated by the parties thereto on May 6, 1999, and

2-4  submitted to a hearing of the Senate Standing Committee on

2-5  Finance on May 24, 1999; and

2-6  (b) The City of Fallon and Churchill County have

2-7  withdrawn all administrative protests and have sought to

2-8  dismiss all legal actions initiated by the city and county,

2-9  respectively, relating to applications for changes in the point

2-10  of diversion, place of use or manner of use of water rights

2-11  pending before the State Engineer on the effective date of this

2-12  act as required by that joint testimony.

2-13      3.  The Carson Water Subconservancy District shall not

2-14  commit for expenditure during the next biennium more than

2-15  $1,600,000 of the appropriation made by subsection 1.

2-16      4.  Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by

2-17  subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after

2-18  June 30, [2004,] 2006, and reverts to the State General Fund

2-19  as soon as all payments of money committed have been

2-20  made.

2-21      Sec. 2.  Section 8 of chapter 515, Statutes of Nevada 1999, at

2-22  page 2634, is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-23      Sec. 8.  1.  This act becomes effective upon passage

2-24  and approval.

2-25      2.  Section 5 of this act expires by limitation on July 1,

2-26  [2004.] 2006.

 

2-27  H