STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 54th Legislature (2013)

HOUSE BILL 1517	By:	McBride

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to waters and water rights; creating the Regional Water Cooperation Act; requiring the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to create Water Cooperation Boards and districts; directing the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to hold public stakeholder meetings for certain purposes; providing for meeting; establishing meeting notice publication requirements; requiring the Board to comply with certain law; directing the Board to take certain actions for cooperative infrastructure projects; specifying the authority and jurisdiction of the Board; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1086.11 of Title 82, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Regional Water Cooperation Act”.
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1086.12 of Title 82, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  There shall be created within the Oklahoma Water Resources Board five Water Cooperation Boards.  The boundaries of these boards shall be established by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, using county boundaries, with emphasis on achieving a commonality of interests regarding water infrastructure projects.  The purpose of these boards shall be to advise the Oklahoma Water Resources Board by proposing infrastructure projects and identifying local needs to ensure an adequate water supply to serve each area.  As part of this purpose, public stakeholder meetings shall be held at least annually to obtain comment and input from interested citizens and cooperation among public and private entities.
B.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall provide notice of the public stakeholder meetings on its website in addition to providing notice by publication not less than three times in a newspaper of general circulation in the district.  If no newspaper serves the entire district, notice shall be provided by publication in as many newspapers as necessary to provide actual notice throughout the district.  Notice shall also be provided by publication not less than two times in a newspaper of statewide circulation.  The notice shall announce the time, date and location of the public stakeholder meeting.
C.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall conform to the requirements of the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act in holding the public stakeholder meetings.
SECTION 3.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1086.13 of Title 82, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall assist, advise and encourage the development of infrastructure projects and shall establish mechanisms to use its loan and grant funding within each of the five designated districts to encourage and reward cooperation.
B.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall consider the needs and requests which evolve from the public stakeholder meetings held as provided for in Section 2 of this act.  However, the Board shall maintain overall authority and jurisdiction to ensure a statewide perspective is maintained and that projects conducted in one district are not to the detriment of the needs within other districts.
SECTION 4.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2013.
SECTION 5.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

54-1-6624	KB	01/16/13