ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 1689 	By:	Paddack, Gumm and Johnson (Constance) of the Senate

			and

		Billy of the House

[ waters and water rights - Oklahoma Water Center Act - mining - sensitive sole source groundwater basin - codification - effective date -		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 1086.10 of Title 82, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma Water Center Act”.
B.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall include provisions in the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan, as otherwise authorized by law and updated in 2011, for creation of a water science and research advisory council for implementation of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan.  The council shall be known as the Oklahoma Water Center.
C.  The Oklahoma Water Center shall consist of members from state and federal agencies and institutions of higher education and other appropriate entities that conduct activities related to coordinated water research, planning, water quantity and water quality, as identified in the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan, updated in 2011.  The members shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
D.  Members of the Oklahoma Water Center appointed pursuant to this section shall serve without compensation but may be eligible for necessary travel reimbursement as authorized by the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and subject to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
E.  The Oklahoma Water Center shall:
1.  Act as a water science and research advisory council to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in implementation of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan;
2.  Review state and federal assistance opportunities for coordinated research, planning, design, and construction for water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects, including projects for water supply, storage, treatment, and related facilities, water quality protection, wastewater treatment, and related facilities, environmental restoration, and surface water resource protection, flood control, recreation, and development, as identified in the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan; and
3.  Perform other duties as indentified in the update of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan.
D.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall provide staff for the Oklahoma Water Center.
E.  The Oklahoma Water Center shall submit a report to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31 each year.
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     82 O.S. 2001, Section 1020.2, is amended to read as follows:
Section 1020.2  A.  It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state, in the interest of the agricultural stability, domestic, municipal, industrial and other beneficial uses, general economy, health and welfare of the state and its citizens, to utilize the ground water resources of the state, and for that purpose to provide reasonable regulations for the allocation for reasonable use based on hydrologic surveys of fresh ground water groundwater basins or subbasins to determine a restriction on the production, based upon the acres overlying the ground water groundwater basin or subbasin.
B.  The provisions of this act the Oklahoma Groundwater Law, Section 1020.1 et seq. of this title, shall not apply to the taking, using or disposal of salt water associated with the exploration, production or recovery of oil and gas or.
C.  The provisions of the Oklahoma Groundwater Law shall not apply to the taking, using or disposal of water trapped in producing mines unless the water originates from a sensitive sole source groundwater basin or subbasin.
SECTION 3.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2010.
SECTION 4.  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.
Passed the Senate the 9th day of March, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer 	of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer	of the House
	of Representatives