NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 6/6/2014.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 14-195
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Nicholson and Renfroe,;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Singer and Sonnenberg, DelGrosso, Foote,
      Humphrey, Young, Becker, Conti, Coram, Court, Fields, Gardner, Gerou,
      Ginal, Holbert, Kagan, Labuda, Landgraf, Lawrence, Lee, May, Melton,
      Murray, Pettersen, Primavera, Priola, Rosenthal, Saine, Salazar, Schafer,
      Scott, Stephens, Swalm, Vigil.
      
      
      Concerning a study of phreatophyte growth along the South
           Platte river in the aftermath of the September 2013 flood.
      
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 37-60-115, add (9) as
      follows:
      
           37-60-115.  Water studies - rules - repeal. (9) (a)  The board
      shall conduct at least the preliminary stages of a comprehensive
      study to evaluate the growth and identification of
      phreatophytes along the South Platte river in the aftermath of
      the September 2013 flood. If appropriate, the board shall conduct
      all stages of the study. The objectives of the study are:
      
           (I)  To evaluate a portion of the watershed along the South
      Platte river that was affected by the September 2013 flood to
      determine the relationship between high groundwater and
      nonbeneficial consumptive use by phreatophytes; and
      
           (II)  Utilizing the data compiled for subparagraph (I) of this
      paragraph (a), to develop a cost analysis for the removal of
      unwanted phreatophytes along the South Platte river.
      
           (b)  The board may enter into contracts with Colorado
      state university's bioagricultural sciences and pest management
      program  to conduct, oversee, and coordinate all aspects of the
      study and shall coordinate with the department of agriculture
      and weed management specialists from affected local
      governments.
      
           (c)  The board shall commission the study as soon as
      practicable. The board shall prepare a final report, including its
      conclusions, and present it to the general assembly no later than
      December 31, 2016. The board shall prepare a progress report and
      present it to a joint meeting of the house of representatives
      committee on agriculture, livestock, and natural resources and
      the senate committee on agriculture, natural resources, and
      energy, or their successor committees, during the second regular
      session of the seventieth general assembly in 2016.
      
           (d)  The board is authorized to accept and expend gifts,
      grants, and donations for the purposes of this subsection (9). The
      general assembly finds that the implementation of this subsection
      (9) is not entirely dependent on the receipt of any gifts, grants,
      and donations. The board shall transmit all moneys received
      through gifts, grants, or donations to the state treasurer, who
      shall credit them to the Colorado water conservation board
      construction fund created in section 37-60-121.
      
           (e)  This subsection (9) is repealed, effective July 1, 2017.
      
           SECTION 2.  In Session Laws of Colorado 2012S, section 7 of
      chapter 1, amend (1) as follows:
      
           Section 7.  Phreatophyte control cost-sharing program -
      appropriation. (1)  In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby
      appropriated, out of any moneys in the Colorado water conservation board
      construction fund not otherwise appropriated, to the department of natural
      resources, for allocation to the Colorado water conservation board, for the
      fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, the sum of $1,000,000, or so much
      thereof as may be necessary, for the board to continue financing
      phreatophyte control cost-sharing grants and to evaluate the growth
      and identification of phreatophytes along the South Platte river
      in the aftermath of the September 2013 flood through any of the
      board's existing programs.
      
           SECTION 3.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
      determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
      preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Morgan Carroll                        Mark Ferrandino
      PRESIDENT OF                     SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Cindi L. Markwell                      Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO