The bill amends Sections 33-7-71, 33-7-72, and 33-7-74 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to establish enhanced safety procedures for state-owned dams and reservoirs, with a focus on clarifying key definitions such as "abandonment," "dam," and "state-owned dam or reservoir." New legal language has been inserted to specify the methods for rendering a dam non-impounding and to define "state-owned dam or reservoir" as any dam or reservoir owned by the state or its agencies. The bill also revises the definition of "emergency" to include all conditions threatening dam safety and expands the qualifications for an "engineer" to ensure that only qualified professionals are involved in dam safety matters.

Additionally, the bill modifies inspection requirements, mandating that participating owners have their dams and reservoirs inspected by an engineer at least once every four years, a change from the previous two-year requirement. It introduces provisions for owners of state-owned dams to submit a written affidavit to local emergency management agencies and clarifies that these agencies do not have inspection or regulatory responsibilities. The bill emphasizes that participating owners retain all legal duties and liabilities associated with their dams and includes a provision to waive any immunity related to these responsibilities. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 33-7-71, 33-7-72, 33-7-74
Engrossed: 33-7-71, 33-7-72, 33-7-74
Enrolled: 33-7-71, 33-7-72, 33-7-74