Senate Bill 958 establishes a new nonlapsible trust fund called the "water fund for our future," which will receive a one-time transfer of $250 million from the general fund. The bill creates a Joint Committee for the Oversight of the Water Fund for Our Future, consisting of members from both the Senate and Assembly, as well as representatives from the Department of Health Services and the Department of Natural Resources. This committee will oversee expenditures from the fund, recommend transfers to a rapid response account for natural disasters and public health emergencies, and ensure that funds are used solely for clean water-related activities.

Additionally, the bill allows the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Justice to seek reimbursement from responsible parties for expenditures made from the water fund. It also stipulates that any agency can request supplemental funding from the water fund, with the Joint Committee for the Oversight of the Water Fund required to provide recommendations to the Joint Committee on Finance regarding these requests. The bill includes provisions for recording objections to funding requests, ensuring transparency in the decision-making process.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 25.60, 299.97(2), 299.97