Enrolled Copy S.B. 77
1 WATER RIGHTS RESTRICTED ACCOUNT AMENDMENTS
2024 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall House Sponsor: Casey Snider
2
3 LONG TITLE
4 General Description:
5 This bill modifies provisions related to the Water Rights Restricted Account.
6 Highlighted Provisions:
7 This bill:
8 ▸ modifies the purposes for which money in the Water Rights Restricted Account may be
9 expended; and
10 ▸ makes technical changes.
11 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
12 None
13 Other Special Clauses:
14 None
15 Utah Code Sections Affected:
16 AMENDS:
17 73-2-1.6, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 106
18
19 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
20 Section 1. Section 73-2-1.6 is amended to read:
21 73-2-1.6 . Water Rights Restricted Account.
22 (1) As used in this section:
23 (a) "Account" means the Water Rights Restricted Account created by this section.
24 (b) "Division" means the Division of Water Rights.
25 (2) There is created in the General Fund a restricted account known as the "Water Rights
26 Restricted Account."
27 (3) The account shall consist of the money deposited into the account under Subsection
28 59-12-103(5)(e).
 S.B. 77 Enrolled Copy
29 (4) Upon appropriation, the division may use money in the account for:
30 (a) costs incurred by the division that benefit water rights adjudications, including:
31 [(a)] (i) employing technical staff;
32 [(b)] (ii) acquiring equipment;
33 [(c)] (iii) obtaining legal support; [and]
34 [(d)] (iv) conducting studies[.] ;
35 (A) installing, operating, and maintaining measurement infrastructure; and
36 (B) sharing the costs of installed United States Geological Survey stream gauges;
37 and
38 (b) not to exceed 5% of the money deposited into the account under Subsection
39 59-12-103(5)(e) in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year of appropriation, costs
40 incurred by the division to acquire, manage, and analyze surface and groundwater
41 data, not limited to geographic areas of adjudication.
42 (5) (a) The account may not exceed $8,000,000 at the end of a fiscal year.
43 (b) If the account exceeds $8,000,000 at the end of a fiscal year, the Division of Finance
44 shall deposit into the Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund, created
45 in Section 73-10-24, the money in excess of the amount necessary to maintain the
46 account balance at $8,000,000.
47 Section 2. Effective date.
48 This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.
-2-


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 73-2-1.6
Enrolled: 73-2-1.6