Existing law authorizes a board of county commissioners to recommend to the State Engineer that the State Engineer establish a groundwater board in an area designated as a groundwater basin by the State Engineer. If the State Engineer directs the establishment of a groundwater board, the Governor is required to appoint seven members who serve on the groundwater board. Existing law authorizes the Governor to dissolve the groundwater board if the Governor determines that the future activities of the board are likely to be insubstantial. (NRS 534.035) Section 1 of this bill: (1) authorizes a board of county commissioners to request that the State Engineer establish a groundwater board and appoint seven members to serve on the groundwater board; (2) authorizes boards of county commissioners to jointly request that the State Engineer establish a groundwater board; (3) authorizes a board of county commissioners or boards of county commissioners, as applicable, to appoint a nonvoting member to the groundwater board; (4) provides that the groundwater board must be dissolved after 4 years unless the State Engineer approves a request from the board of county commissioners or boards of county commissioners, as applicable, to continue the board; and (5) provides that the groundwater board may be dissolved by a majority vote of the groundwater board. Section 1 further provides that only one groundwater board may be established for a designated groundwater basin. Section 1 also requires the State Engineer to consider the written advice and recommendations of the groundwater board on reducing overpumping in the designated basin. Existing law requires: (1) the State to pay certain expenses of a groundwater board such as per diem and travel allowances for board members and expenses for consultants employed by a groundwater board; and (2) the State Engineer to determine and certify the budget of a groundwater board for paying such expenses. (NRS 534.035, 534.040) Sections 1 and 2 of this bill eliminate these provisions and provide that members serve without compensation.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 534.035, 534.040
Reprint 1: 534.035, 534.040
BDR: 534.035, 534.040