The proposed bill would amend current statutes related to the water improvements program by allowing individuals to make gifts, grants, or donations specifically for water hauling and delivery assistance to qualified residential property owners. It would also expand the permissible uses of grant funds to include acquiring or installing storage tanks for water delivered through hauling. Additionally, the bill would stipulate that counties with a water improvements program can designate a portion of groundwater transportation fees to assist only those residential property owners residing within the groundwater basin from which the water was withdrawn.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that the fees collected from groundwater transportation are considered general county funds and must be deposited into the county general fund. It requires counties to separately account for these fees and any excess funds, which would also be deposited into the general fund. The bill aims to enhance the financial assistance framework for water delivery systems while ensuring that funds are appropriately allocated and managed.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-254.09
House Engrossed Version: 11-254.09