C.R.S. tit. 37, art. 98 — Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee | Colorado Revised Statutes (2024 edition) — Colorado

C.R.S. § 37-98-101 Legislative declaration

37-98-101. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that the purpose of this article 98 is to provide a committee as a forum through which the general assembly shall review: (a) The statewide planning, administration, and monitoring of Colorado's water resources; and (b) Colorado agriculture issues. (2) The general assembly recognizes its mandate to vigorously protect and defend Colorado's finite supply of water. The general assembly further recognizes the need to ensure that water issues receive sufficient legislative scrutiny and public input: (a) To maximize the benefit derived from Colorado's surface water and groundwater resources; (b) To evaluate the present and future water needs of the state; (c) To ensure effective water rights administration; (d) To protect water quality and water quantity; and (e) To ensure that Colorado's interstate water compact agreements are met and, in relation to the agreements, that Colorado's water resources are protected against unwarranted claims. (f) Repealed. (3) The general assembly further recognizes that: (a) Agriculture is one of the largest and most significant economic sectors in Colorado; (b) Colorado's agricultural producers and workers are often stewards of Colorado's surface and groundwater resources; (c) Colorado's agricultural sector is a leader in water efficiency and conservation practices; (d) Agriculture and water resources issues are often closely intertwined with one another; and (e) Expanding the scope of the committee to include agriculture would be beneficial to the committee's studies and support the committee's efforts in protecting and defending Colorado's water supply.

C.R.S. § 37-98-102 Water resources and agriculture review committee - creation

37-98-102. Water resources and agriculture review committee - creation. (1) (a) (I) For the purposes of contributing to and monitoring the conservation, use, development, and financing of the water resources of Colorado for the general welfare of its inhabitants; identifying, monitoring, and addressing Colorado agriculture issues; and reviewing and proposing water resources and agriculture legislation, there is hereby created the water resources and agriculture review committee, referred to in this article 98 as the "committee". The committee shall meet at the call of the chair at least four times during each calendar year to review and to propose water resources and agriculture legislation and related matters. In connection with such review, and at the discretion of the chair, the committee may take field trips during the calendar year in connection with its mandate and shall consult with experts in the field of water conservation, quality, use, finance, and development and the field of agriculture. The department of natural resources, the state engineer, the department of agriculture, and the attorney general, together with the members and staff of the Colorado water conservation board, the Colorado water resources and power development authority, the water quality control commission, the department of public health and environment, and the great outdoors Colorado program, shall cooperate with the committee and with any persons assisting the committee in pursuing its responsibilities pursuant to this section. Further, the committee may utilize the legislative council staff to assist its members in researching any matters. (II) Repealed. (b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2003, p. 718, § 2, effective March 20, 2003.) (2) (a) The committee shall consist of ten members of the general assembly to be selected as follows: (I) Five members of the committee shall be from the senate, three appointed by the president of the senate and two appointed by the minority party leader; and (II) Five members of the committee shall be from the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives after consultation with the minority leader of the house of representatives. (b) At least four members of the committee shall either: (I) Reside in that portion of the state that is west of the continental divide; or (II) Represent a legislative district the majority of the population of which lies west of the continental divide. (c) To the extent possible, the members shall be selected so as to achieve representation from each water division as defined in section 37-92-201. (d) (I) Except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (d), members' terms shall extend from January 1 of an odd-numbered year to December 31 of the following even-numbered year. the population of which lies west of the continental divide. (c) To the extent possible, the members shall be selected so as to achieve representation from each water division as defined in section 37-92-201. (d) (I) Except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (d), members' terms shall extend from January 1 of an odd-numbered year to December 31 of the following even-numbered year. (II) The terms of the members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the minority leader of the senate and who are serving on March 22, 2007, shall be extended to and expire on or shall terminate on the convening date of the first regular session of the sixty-seventh general assembly. As soon as practicable after such convening date, the speaker, the president, and the minority leader of the senate shall appoint or reappoint members in the same manner as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2). Thereafter, the terms of members appointed or reappointed by the speaker, the president, and the minority leader of the senate shall expire on the convening date of the first regular session of each general assembly, and all subsequent appointments and reappointments by the speaker, the president, and the minority leader of the senate shall be made as soon as practicable after such convening date. The person making the original appointment or reappointment shall fill any vacancy by appointment for the remainder of an unexpired term. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and shall continue in office until the member's successor is appointed. (3) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall coordinate their appointments to the extent practicable. (4) Members of the committee shall serve without compensation; except that each member shall receive the sums specified in section 2-2-307 (3)(a) and (3)(b), C.R.S., for attendance at meetings of the committee when the general assembly is in recess for more than three days or is not in session. (5) During odd-numbered years, the president of the senate shall appoint the chair and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the vice-chair, and during even-numbered years, the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the chair and the president of the senate shall appoint the vice-chair. (6) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2002, p. 1099, § 1, effective June 3, 2002.)

C.R.S. § 37-98-103 Annual recommendations - bill limitation - deadlines for introduction

37-98-103. Annual recommendations - bill limitation - deadlines for introduction. (1) (a) The committee may report no more than three bills or other measures to the legislative council created in section 2-3-301 unless a two-thirds majority of the members of the committee vote to report a greater number. No bill shall be reported to the legislative council unless a two-thirds majority of the appointed members of the committee vote to report such bill to the legislative council. Such greater number shall not exceed one bill or other measure per member. These bills shall be exempt from any applicable bill limit imposed on the individual committee members sponsoring such bills if the bills have been approved by the legislative council no later than October 15 in even-numbered years and November 15 in odd-numbered years. (b) Repealed. (2) to (5) Repealed. (6) (a) and (b) Repealed. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions on meetings and field trips set forth in section 37-98-102 (1)(a)(I), when the Colorado water conservation board submits a significant amendment to the state water plan to the committee as specified in section 37-60-106.3 (3)(b), the committee may hold at least one public hearing on the amendment in each geographic region associated with the basin roundtables for the purpose of receiving the public's feedback. If the committee holds the hearings, the committee shall provide a summary of the public's feedback, as well as the committee's own feedback, to the board by November 1 of the year in which the hearings are held. (d) Hearings held pursuant to this subsection (6): (I) Repealed. (II) May be held before the Colorado water conservation board submits the documents specified in section 37-60-106.3 (3)(b) if deemed appropriate by the chair of the committee. (7) No later than November 1, 2017, and no later than every five years thereafter, the committee shall prepare a list of specific topics that it deems necessary to be addressed in the state water plan, as updated or amended pursuant to section 37-60-106.3. The Colorado water conservation board shall provide its recommendations, including suggestions for potential legislation, for the committee's consideration within eight months after receipt of the list of specific topics. (8) Repealed.

C.R.S. § 37-98-104 Repeal of article

37-98-104. Repeal of article. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 37-98-105 Colorado river drought task force - created - appointments - report - definitions - repeal

37-98-105. Colorado river drought task force - created - appointments - report - definitions - repeal. (Repealed)