Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to impose penalties for irrigation districts who fail to submit water management reports.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to issue civil fines and penalties to entities that fail to report an irrigation plan by the deadline required of the following (Sec. 1):

• A $1,000 fine for failing to timely report or plan; and

• An additional $250 per day for an entity that fails to report a plan within 60 days after being notified.

• Establishes the Department of Waste Resources Reporting Penalties Account in the General Fund, which would be made up of funds recovered from civil penalties imposed by the Department, to be deposited into the account, and would make those funds available to the state legislature (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Department to reduce of waive any civil penalty for any of the following reasons, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1).

• Within 30 days of Department notice the entity failing to timely file a report plan provides the Department with written assurance that the required report will be filed within 90 days;

• The Department finds that the timely submission of the report was impeded by equipment failure, work stoppage, or natural disaster; or

• The entity is located in a disadvantaged community and submits a revised schedule for submission that is acceptable to the Department.

Full Bill Text