NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 6/8/2016.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 16-200
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Sonnenberg, Cooke, Kerr;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Vigil, Coram, Arndt, Becker J., Brown,
      Kraft-Tharp, Ryden.
      
      
      Concerning the creation of a position in the office of the
           governor that coordinates the permitting of water
           projects.
      
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-20-114 as
      follows:
      
           24-20-114.  Director of water project permitting - water
      permitting coordination fund - repeal. (1) (a)  There is hereby
      created in the office of the governor the position of director of
      water project permitting.
      
           (b)  The organizational location of the director is at the
      discretion of the governor. In order to reduce the costs
      associated with creating the water project permitting position,
      nothing in this section precludes the person named to the position
      established under paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) from
      holding other titles or performing other functions within the
      governor's office. The director shall implement the duties and
      powers conferred by this section within existing resources.
      
           (2)  The director shall annually provide an update
      regarding the director's activities to a joint hearing of the
      general assembly's committees with jurisdiction over natural
      resources.
      
           (3)  The director shall assist in the coordination of
      permitting by federal, state, and local governments of:
      
           (a)  Raw water diversion, storage, or delivery projects,
      including associated hydroelectric facilities and both
      consumptive and nonconsumptive uses of water; and
      
           (b)  Water projects that are either:
      
           (I)  Assessed a water quality certification fee pursuant to
      section 25-8-502 (1.2), C.R.S.; or
      
           (II)  Eligible for financing from the Colorado water
      conservation board construction fund created in section
      37-60-121 (1) (a), C.R.S.
      
           (4)  Nothing in this section either grants any jurisdiction to
      the director over any federal, state, or local government, or
      curtails the jurisdiction of any federal, state, or local
      government to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.
      
           (5)  This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2019.
      
           SECTION 2.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
      takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
      ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
      10, 2016, if adjournment sine die is on May 11, 2016); except that, if a
      referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
      constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
      such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
      approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2016
      and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
      the vote thereon by the governor.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Bill L. Cadman                Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
      PRESIDENT OF                     SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Effie Ameen                            Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO