BOARD00056 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/13/2006
• Description: CF Section, ISF Section, OWCDP Section, Flood Section - Proposed Statute Revisions
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Clarifies the administration of the Agricultural Emergency Drought Grant
I)rogram

37-61l-123.5 Colorado Re\'ised Statutes. is amended to read:

_. Aericultuntl emer1!t'nc\' drOU2hl fe-sponst'.

(I) If. pursuant 10 federal or state lavo', any panioo or Colorado has received emergency drought
designation or a disaster emergency has been proclaimed due to drought, notwithstanding the
provisions of section 39-29-109 (I) (a), C.R.S., in addition to any other moneys appropriated from
the perpetual base account of the severance tax trust fund. created by section 39-29-109. C.R.S.. up
to one million dollars in the perpetual base account of the severance tax trust fund are continuously
appropriated ANNUALLY to the director of the Colorado water conservation board and the state
engineer FOR ANY such designation or proclamation to make loans and grants to agricultural
organizations for emergency drought-related water augmentation purposes.

(2) The director of the Colorado water conservation board and the state engineer shall consult
with the commissioner of agriculture and the executive director of the department of natural
resources before making any loans or grants pursuant to this section. Within three months after the
end of any fiscal year during which the spending authority created pursuant to this section is
exercised. the director and the state engineer shall report to the general assembly regarding how such
spending authority was exercised.

Discussion

The Agricultuml Emergency Drought Response Program (the Program) was created through Scnate Bill
025.001. The Progrdm provides loans and grants to agricultuml organizations for emergency drought-
related water augmentation purposes. The Program is currently administered by a Management
Committee. composed of the Director of the Colomdo Water Conservation Board, the State Engineer,
the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources. and the Commissioner of Agriculture.
The Program provides grants for the lease of augmentation water during drought years. loans for the
purchase of water rights for augmentation purposes as well as loans for the construction of water
structures required to return augmentation water to the river.

This is a proposed revision to the agricultural emergency drought response appropriations statute. The
revision reflects the nccd to clarify, through more definitive statutory language, that appropriations from
the current year may be disbursed to grantccs based on drought designations in prior years.

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