Colorado Legislative Council Staff

STATE

REVISED FISCAL NOTE

(Replaces Fiscal Note dated March 23, 1998)

Cash Fund Expenditure Impact


Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 98-497

Rep. Young

Sen. Ament

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

March 30, 1998

House 2nd Reading

Will Meyer (866-4976)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS RELATED TO THE REGULATION OF GROUND WATER, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.


Summary of Legislation


            The provisions of this bill would make changes to the statutes that regulate the administration of ground water by the Office of State Engineer, Division of Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources. The bill also would increase the per diem allowance for Ground Water Commission members. The bill would make changes to the permitting of small capacity wells. It also would permit the commission to authorize well applicants to pay any publication expenses directly to the newspaper rather than to the commission. The bill will become effective at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the ninety-day period after adjournment sine die of the General Assembly, or on the date of the official declaration of the vote of the people as proclaimed by the Governor, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to Article V, Section 1 (3) of the State Constitution. 


            The bill, as amended in the House Agriculture Committee, would authorize the board of any ground water management district (that has the authority to adopt rules) to adopt rules to establish their own volume rules for small capacity wells. This provision would reduce the number of well application changes, identified in the initial fiscal note, that the Division of Water Resources would need to process and the fiscal impact to the division. The bill, as amended in the House Appropriations Committee, would eliminate the provision that all well permit fees be deposited in the Ground Water Management Cash Fund and retain the current statutory provisions.


STATE FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY

FY 1998/99

FY 1999/2000

State Revenues

General Fund

Other Fund



 


 

State Expenditures

General Fund

Ground Water Management Cash Fund



($760)



($760)

FTE Position Change

None

None

Local Government Impact — None.


State Expenditures


            The provisions of the bill would allow the per diem currently paid to members of the Ground Water Commission to increase by $1,200 per year, per commissioner, for a potential expenditure impact of $10,800. However in actuality, the division has indicated that the total additional per diem expenditure for FY 1998/99 and FY 1999/2000 is estimated to be $900 Ground Water Management Cash Fund. This estimate is based upon the assumptions that: 1) the commission will continue to meet four days per year; 2) nine commission members will be eligible for per diem; and 3) the per diem will be increased by $25.


            Other provisions of the bill would result in cost savings to the division: 1) the bill would eliminate the need for the issuance of final permits for the Denver Basin bedrock aquifer wells resulting in a savings of staff time and the $7 newspaper publication cost for a total of $848 per year; and 2) the bill would eliminate the need for 63 newspaper publications that were done to process change applications in FY 1997/98 for a savings of staff time and newspaper publication cost for a total of $812 per year.


DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES EXPENDITURES TO IMPLEMENT HB 98-1151

 

FY 1998-99

FY 1999-2000

Ground Water Commission per diem:

$900

$900

Final Permit - Beneficial Use

(848)

(848)

Fees and Publication Costs

 Personal Services and Publication Costs


(812)


(812)

Total Expenditures

($760)

($760)


            The Division of Water Resources would require a net total of $760 less than their current appropriation to implement the provisions of the bill.



Spending Authority


            The fiscal note implies that the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources, would require a reduction of $760 in their cash fund spending authority in FY 1998/99, which should replace the appropriation clause included in the bill.



Departments Contacted


            Natural Resources