2006 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 736 – Ground water, assessments

HOUSE BILL NO. 736

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H0736aa....................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
GROUND WATER DISTRICTS - Amends existing law relating to ground water
districts to provide for assessment credits relating to ground water
district mitigation obligations by the Director of the Department of Water
Resources based on mitigation plans of certain nonirrigators; to provide
that the Director of the Department of Water Resources may require certain
accountings by ground water districts relating to nonmember participants;
to clarify provisions relating to petitions for exclusion of ground water
irrigated lands from ground water districts; and to provide for petitions
for exclusion of lands of nonirrigators from ground water districts.
                                                                        
02/24    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/27    Rpt prt - to Res/Con
03/14    Rpt out - to Gen Ord
03/15    Rpt out amen - to engros
03/16    Rpt engros - 1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
03/17    Rls susp - PASSED - 61-2-7
      AYES -- Anderson, Andrus, Barraclough, Bastian, Bayer, Bedke, Bell,
      Bilbao, Black, Block, Boe, Bolz, Brackett, Cannon, Chadderdon, Clark,
      Collins, Deal, Denney, Edmunson, Eskridge, Field(18), Field(23),
      Garrett, Hart, Harwood, Henbest, Henderson, Jaquet, Kemp, Lake,
      Loertscher, Martinez, Mathews, McKague, Miller, Mitchell, Moyle,
      Nielsen, Nonini, Pasley-Stuart, Pence, Raybould, Ring, Ringo,
      Roberts, Rusche, Rydalch, Sayler, Schaefer, Shepherd(2), Shepherd(8),
      Shirley, Skippen, Smith(30), Smith(24), Smylie, Snodgrass, Stevenson,
      Trail, Mr. Speaker
      NAYS -- Barrett, LeFavour
      Absent and excused -- Bradford, Crow, Ellsworth, McGeachin, Sali,
      Wills, Wood
    Floor Sponsor - Stevenson
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/20    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Res/Env
03/28    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/29    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/30    3rd rdg - PASSED - 33-0-2
      AYES -- Andreason, Brandt, Broadsword, Burkett, Burtenshaw, Cameron,
      Coiner, Compton, Corder, Darrington, Davis, Fulcher, Gannon, Geddes,
      Goedde, Jorgenson, Kelly, Keough, Langhorst, Little, Lodge, Malepeai,
      Marley, McGee, McKenzie, Pearce, Richardson, Schroeder, Stegner,
      Stennett, Sweet, Werk, Williams
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Bunderson, Hill
    Floor Sponsor - Williams
    Title apvd - to House
03/31    To enrol
04/03    Rpt enrol - Sp signed - Pres signed
04/04    To Governor
04/07    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 355
         Effective: 04/07/06

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   Second Regular Session - 2006
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 736
                                                                        
                                 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO GROUND WATER DISTRICTS; AMENDING SECTION 42-5214, IDAHO  CODE,  TO
  3        CLARIFY  AN EXCEPTION RELATING TO THOSE DEEMED INCLUDED WITHIN AND SUBJECT
  4        TO ASSESSMENT BY GROUND WATER DISTRICTS; AMENDING SECTION  42-5232,  IDAHO
  5        CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR CREDITS AND ADJUSTMENTS RELATING TO GROUND WATER DIS-
  6        TRICT  MITIGATION  OBLIGATIONS  BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
  7        RESOURCES BASED ON  MITIGATION  OR  REPLACEMENT  WATER  PLANS  OF  CERTAIN
  8        NONIRRIGATORS;  AMENDING  SECTION 42-5244, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE
  9        DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES MAY REQUIRE CERTAIN ACCOUNT-
 10        INGS BY GROUND WATER DISTRICTS RELATING TO NONMEMBER PARTICIPANTS;  AMEND-
 11        ING  SECTION  42-5251, IDAHO CODE, TO CLARIFY PROVISIONS RELATING TO PETI-
 12        TIONS FOR EXCLUSION OF GROUND WATER IRRIGATION  LANDS  FROM  GROUND  WATER
 13        DISTRICTS,   TO   PROVIDE   FOR   PETITIONS  FOR  EXCLUSION  OF  LANDS  OF
 14        NONIRRIGATORS FROM GROUND WATER DISTRICTS AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL  CORREC-
 15        TION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
                                                                        
 16    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 17        SECTION  1.  That  Section 42-5214, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 18    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 19        42-5214.  GROUND WATER USERS INCLUDED WITHIN THE DISTRICT  --  NOTICE  AND
 20    HEARING  FOR  MEMBERS  INCLUDED  IN  DISTRICT AFTER MARCH 31, 2005 -- ORDER --
 21    APPEAL AND CONCLUSIVENESS. (1) All ground water irrigators within  the  bound-
 22    aries  of the district shall be members of the district and subject to assess-
 23    ments, rights and responsibilities established by the district as set forth in
 24    this chapter, notwithstanding any change in the ownership or  control  of  the
 25    property  of the water user, whether by way of transfer, exchange, conveyance,
 26    assignment, lease, or otherwise, to which the water right or  rights  used  to
 27    determine  assessments are appurtenant, unless excluded from the district pur-
 28    suant to sections 42-5251 through 42-5257, Idaho Code. Except as  provided  in
 29    section 42-5276, Idaho Code, any ground water irrigator who previously was not
 30    a  member  as  of March 31, 2005, shall be included as a member effective upon
 31    order of the board finding and confirming that inclusion of such ground  water
 32    irrigator  is in the best interests of the district and that such ground water
 33    irrigator shall receive benefits from such inclusion as a member.  Such  order
 34    may be made only after the board shall have caused a notice of such hearing to
 35    be  published  in the manner of notices of elections, which notice shall state
 36    that all persons interested in or that may be affected by such inclusion as  a
 37    member  shall  appear at the time and place named in the notice and show cause
 38    in writing why they should not be included as a member. The board, at the time
 39    mentioned in said notice shall hear any objections to inclusion.  The  failure
 40    of  any person to file with the district office an objection to inclusion as a
 41    member prior to the noticed hearing shall be taken as an assent on his part to
 42    such inclusion as a member of the district. Any order confirming the inclusion
 43    of ground water irrigators as members of the district shall  be  certified  by
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    the  board  president  and  secretary  and  filed for record in the recorder's
  2    office of each county within which are situated any lands of the district  and
  3    notice  of the order shall be published in the manner of notices of elections.
  4    Any person who properly has filed an objection to inclusion as a member  shall
  5    have  the  right  to  appeal to the district court of the county in which such
  6    person's ground water right is situated, provided such appeal  shall  be  made
  7    within  thirty (30)  days from the date of publication of the order confirming
  8    such inclusion. After said thirty (30) day appeal period, no  one  shall  have
  9    any  cause or right of action to contest the legality, formality or regularity
 10    of said order of inclusion for any reason  whatsoever,  and  thereafter,  said
 11    inclusion  and  the constitution and validity of the district shall be consid-
 12    ered valid and incontestable without limitation. Any  ground  water  irrigator
 13    who  previously was not a member of the district as of March 31, 2005, that is
 14    included as a member upon order of the board shall be liable for  his  propor-
 15    tionate share of all costs of the district incurred after such date, including
 16    his  proportionate share of all bonded, warrant or other indebtedness incurred
 17    prior to March 31, 2005, but  only  the  proportionate  share  of  such  prior
 18    indebtedness applicable to the period after March 31, 2005.
 19        (2)  All  nonirrigators  within  the  boundaries of the district who voted
 20    according to notice as provided in section 42-5210(3), Idaho Code, are members
 21    of the district as specified in such notice.
 22        (3)  A nonirrigator also may become a member of a district  by  providing,
 23    within sixty (60) days after the date on which the district is formed, written
 24    notice to the district board that the nonirrigator wishes to join the district
 25    either  as  a  member  for all purposes or as a member for mitigation purposes
 26    only. Upon providing such notice, the nonirrigator shall be  either  a  member
 27    for all purposes or a member for mitigation purposes only, as specified in the
 28    notice,  and  shall  be  subject to assessment accordingly as provided in this
 29    chapter.  After such sixty (60) day period, a nonirrigator may become a member
 30    of a district only through the  annexation  procedure  described  in  sections
 31    42-5245 through 42-5249, Idaho Code.
 32        (4)  Except as provided for municipal, commercial, industrial, federal and
 33    tribal  ground  water users in subsection (1) of this section nonirrigators as
 34    defined in subsection (11) of section 42-5201, Idaho Code,  any  person  whose
 35    permit, license, or other entitlement to appropriate ground water was acquired
 36    after the formation of the district, or who appropriates ground water for uses
 37    not requiring a permit after the formation of the district, but qualifies as a
 38    ground  water user under subsection (8) of section 42-5201, Idaho Code, within
 39    the area of the district in all  other  respects,  shall  be  deemed  included
 40    within  and  subject  to  assessment  by  the  district,  if benefitted either
 41    directly or indirectly by the district as of the date the permit, license,  or
 42    entitlement is acquired.
                                                                        
 43        SECTION  2.  That  Section 42-5232, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 44    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 45        42-5232.  LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS. (1) The secretary of the board shall be the
 46    assessor of the district, and on or before August 1 of each year shall prepare
 47    an assessment book containing a full and accurate list of all lands within the
 48    district that are subject to assessment under this chapter.
 49        (2)  At a regular meeting of the board between August 1 and November 1  of
 50    each  year,  the board of directors shall determine the amount necessary to be
 51    raised for payment of the annual payment on any and all  indebtedness  of  the
 52    district  for  the  following year.  Money received in payment of such assess-
 53    ments shall be deposited in a separate fund to be known as the debt retirement
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1    fund.
  2        (3)  The board shall, in addition, determine the assessments necessary  to
  3    pay,  without limitation, the expenses of developing, operating or maintaining
  4    any mitigation plan established by the district and the cost of contracts with
  5    any person for mitigation plans, or evaluation of  proposed  contracts.  Money
  6    received  in payment of such assessments shall be deposited in a separate fund
  7    to be known as the mitigation expense fund.
  8        (4)  The board shall, in addition, determine the assessments necessary  to
  9    pay  maintenance and operation of the district not related to mitigation plans
 10    or purposes. These operation and maintenance duties include making the assess-
 11    ment book, giving notice of assessments and making  collections  thereof,  and
 12    other  duties, programs or projects of the district to the extent such duties,
 13    programs or projects are not attributable to  mitigation  plans  or  purposes.
 14    Money received in payment of such assessments shall be deposited in a separate
 15    fund of the district to be known as the operating expense fund.
 16        (5)  Any  ground water user who becomes a member of a district for mitiga-
 17    tion purposes shall be subject to no assessment beyond his proportional  share
 18    of the costs, including administrative costs and other reasonable expenses, of
 19    any  mitigation plan or actions or activities in furtherance of the district's
 20    mitigation plans or purposes.
 21        (6)  No assessment made pursuant to this chapter shall be a  lien  against
 22    any municipal property.
 23        (7)  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, each member shall pay a
 24    proportionate  share  of  the total of all amounts to be assessed for the pur-
 25    poses aforementioned, which share shall be based on the ratio which the  quan-
 26    tity  of  water the water user is authorized to appropriate under the member's
 27    ground water right(s) bears to the total  quantity  of  water  authorized  for
 28    appropriation  under  the  ground  water rights of all water users in the dis-
 29    trict, provided, that the board shall be entitled  to  levy  assessments  that
 30    adjust  a  member's  proportionate  share  to take into consideration priority
 31    dates, consumptive use under the  members'  respective  ground  water  rights,
 32    other attributes of the ground water rights appurtenant to the assessed lands,
 33    and/or  the benefits the member derives from a mitigation plan or other activ-
 34    ity of the district. Any nonirrigator who is a member of a ground  water  dis-
 35    trict, or whose ground water rights are appurtenant to property located within
 36    a  ground  water district, and who has adopted and implemented a mitigation or
 37    replacement water plan that has been approved by the director and that is  not
 38    inconsistent  with such a plan approved by the director and adopted and imple-
 39    mented by the ground water district, shall be entitled to credit for the  con-
 40    tribution  made  by  that  nonirrigator's mitigation or replacement water plan
 41    towards the district's mitigation obligation as determined by the director. In
 42    addition, the director shall appropriately adjust the mitigation obligation of
 43    the district to reflect the impact of the mitigation or replacement water plan
 44    provided by such nonirrigator.
                                                                        
 45        SECTION 3.  That Section 42-5244, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 46    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 47        42-5244.  PROHIBITION  AGAINST  PARTICIPATION IN MITIGATION PLAN WHEN SUB-
 48    JECT TO DELINQUENT ASSESSMENT OR FOR NONPAYMENT OF OTHER MITIGATION  COSTS.  A
 49    ground  water  user who is delinquent in the payment of any assessment against
 50    his water use under this chapter, or who has failed to  pay  other  mitigation
 51    costs owed to the district when due, is prohibited from being a participant in
 52    any mitigation plan until such delinquent assessment, or other past due amount
 53    owed  for  mitigation  costs,  is paid in full. The district shall provide the
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    director a report of such delinquent assessments, or other past due mitigation
  2    costs, at the first of each month for purposes of enforcement. Prior to under-
  3    taking enforcement, the director may require from the district  an  accounting
  4    of  the basis for the assessment and other mitigation costs and the apportion-
  5    ment of those assessments and costs among district members and nonmember  par-
  6    ticipants.    The district shall inform the director immediately upon the pay-
  7    ment of any such delinquent assessment, or other past  due  mitigation  costs.
  8    This  section  shall  be  enforced  by  the watermaster within water districts
  9    established under chapter 6 of this title, and by  the  director  pursuant  to
 10    sections  42-351 and 42-1701B, Idaho Code, in areas outside of such water dis-
 11    trict.
                                                                        
 12        SECTION 4.  That Section 42-5251, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 13    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 14        42-5251.  PETITION FOR EXCLUSION OF LANDS -- GROUND WATER IRRIGATION LANDS
 15    --  LANDS  OF  NONIRRIGATOR -- LANDS MAY REMAIN IN THE DISTRICT FOR MITIGATION
 16    PURPOSES. (1) Any district member who is an irrigator may file with  the  dis-
 17    trict  board  a  petition  requesting  that  the  member's irrigation lands be
 18    excluded from the district. The petition may request that the lands either  be
 19    excluded  for  all purposes or be excluded for all purposes except mitigation.
 20    The petition shall be signed by each petitioner, and shall state that  contin-
 21    ued  inclusion  of  the  irrigation  lands in the district is inappropriate or
 22    unwarranted:
 23        (1a)  Because the diversions of ground water under the ground water  users
 24        irrigator's  water  right  have  no  depletive effect on any water source,
 25        either individually or cumulatively when considered  in  conjunction  with
 26        other similar diversions;
 27        (2b)  Because  the  only ground water use associated with the lands sought
 28        to be excluded by the petition is a domestic or stock water use as defined
 29        by sections 42-111 and 42-1401A, Idaho Code;
 30        (3c)  Because the exclusion of the lands will not  impair  the  district's
 31        ability to repay debt or carry out mitigation plans;
 32        (4d)  Because  the  exclusion is in the best interests of the district and
 33        its members; or
 34        (5e)  For other compelling reasons.
 35    The board shall consider the petition and, based on findings  concerning  such
 36    factors, the board shall grant or deny the petition within ninety (90) days of
 37    the date it is filed, unless the board, in its sole discretion, grants a hear-
 38    ing  on  the  petition  within such time period, in which case the board shall
 39    issue a final decision within sixty (60) days  after  the  conclusion  of  the
 40    hearing.
 41        (2)  Any district member who is a nonirrigator, may file with the district
 42    board  a petition requesting that the member's lands be excluded from the dis-
 43    trict. The petition may request that the lands either be excluded for all pur-
 44    poses or be excluded for all purposes except mitigation. The petition shall be
 45    signed by each petitioner, but need not be acknowledged. The board shall  con-
 46    sider  the  petition and grant or deny the petition within ninety (90) days of
 47    the date it is filed, unless the board, in its sole discretion, grants a hear-
 48    ing on the petition within such time period, in which  case  the  board  shall
 49    issue  a  final  decision  within  sixty (60) days after the conclusion of the
 50    hearing.
 51        (3)  All costs incurred by the district in carrying out the  an  exclusion
 52    proceeding  shall  be  assessed  as provided in section 42-5253, Idaho Code. A
 53    person purchasing land under a written contract shall  be  deemed  to  be  the
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1    owner of that land for purposes of this section.
                                                                        
  2        SECTION  5.  An  emergency  existing  therefor,  which emergency is hereby
  3    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
  4    passage and approval.

Amendment


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   Second Regular Session - 2006
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                     Moved by    Stevenson           
                                                                        
                                                     Seconded by Moyle               
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                              HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO H.B. NO. 736
                                                                        
                                                                        
  1                               AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 2
  2        On page 3 of the printed bill, in line 36, delete "or"; in line 37, delete
  3    "replacement water"; in line 39, following "entitled to" insert:  "an  assess-
  4    ment"; in line 40, delete "or replacement water"; in line 41, delete "In"; and
  5    delete lines 42 through 44.
                                                                        
  6                               AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 4
  7        On  page  4,  in  line 13, delete "IRRIGATION" and insert: "IRRIGATED"; in
  8    line 16, delete "irrigation" and insert: "irrigated"; and in line  20,  delete
  9    "irrigation" and insert: "irrigated".
                                                                        
 10                                 CORRECTIONS TO TITLE
 11        On  page  1,  in  line  5,  delete  "CREDITS  AND ADJUSTMENTS" and insert:
 12    "ASSESSMENT CREDITS"; in line 7, delete "OR REPLACEMENT WATER";  and  in  line
 13    12, delete "IRRIGATION" and insert: "IRRIGATED".

Engrossed Bill (Original Bill with Amendment(s) Incorporated)


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   Second Regular Session - 2006
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                               HOUSE BILL NO. 736, As Amended
                                                                        
                                 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO GROUND WATER DISTRICTS; AMENDING SECTION 42-5214, IDAHO  CODE,  TO
  3        CLARIFY  AN EXCEPTION RELATING TO THOSE DEEMED INCLUDED WITHIN AND SUBJECT
  4        TO ASSESSMENT BY GROUND WATER DISTRICTS; AMENDING SECTION  42-5232,  IDAHO
  5        CODE,  TO PROVIDE FOR ASSESSMENT CREDITS RELATING TO GROUND WATER DISTRICT
  6        MITIGATION  OBLIGATIONS  BY  THE  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  WATER
  7        RESOURCES BASED ON MITIGATION PLANS  OF  CERTAIN  NONIRRIGATORS;  AMENDING
  8        SECTION  42-5244,  IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPART-
  9        MENT OF WATER RESOURCES MAY REQUIRE CERTAIN ACCOUNTINGS  BY  GROUND  WATER
 10        DISTRICTS  RELATING  TO  NONMEMBER PARTICIPANTS; AMENDING SECTION 42-5251,
 11        IDAHO CODE, TO CLARIFY PROVISIONS RELATING TO PETITIONS FOR  EXCLUSION  OF
 12        GROUND  WATER  IRRIGATED LANDS FROM GROUND WATER DISTRICTS, TO PROVIDE FOR
 13        PETITIONS FOR EXCLUSION OF LANDS OF NONIRRIGATORS FROM GROUND  WATER  DIS-
 14        TRICTS AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
                                                                        
 15    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 16        SECTION  1.  That  Section 42-5214, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 17    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 18        42-5214.  GROUND WATER USERS INCLUDED WITHIN THE DISTRICT  --  NOTICE  AND
 19    HEARING  FOR  MEMBERS  INCLUDED  IN  DISTRICT AFTER MARCH 31, 2005 -- ORDER --
 20    APPEAL AND CONCLUSIVENESS. (1) All ground water irrigators within  the  bound-
 21    aries  of the district shall be members of the district and subject to assess-
 22    ments, rights and responsibilities established by the district as set forth in
 23    this chapter, notwithstanding any change in the ownership or  control  of  the
 24    property  of the water user, whether by way of transfer, exchange, conveyance,
 25    assignment, lease, or otherwise, to which the water right or  rights  used  to
 26    determine  assessments are appurtenant, unless excluded from the district pur-
 27    suant to sections 42-5251 through 42-5257, Idaho Code. Except as  provided  in
 28    section 42-5276, Idaho Code, any ground water irrigator who previously was not
 29    a  member  as  of March 31, 2005, shall be included as a member effective upon
 30    order of the board finding and confirming that inclusion of such ground  water
 31    irrigator  is in the best interests of the district and that such ground water
 32    irrigator shall receive benefits from such inclusion as a member.  Such  order
 33    may be made only after the board shall have caused a notice of such hearing to
 34    be  published  in the manner of notices of elections, which notice shall state
 35    that all persons interested in or that may be affected by such inclusion as  a
 36    member  shall  appear at the time and place named in the notice and show cause
 37    in writing why they should not be included as a member. The board, at the time
 38    mentioned in said notice shall hear any objections to inclusion.  The  failure
 39    of  any person to file with the district office an objection to inclusion as a
 40    member prior to the noticed hearing shall be taken as an assent on his part to
 41    such inclusion as a member of the district. Any order confirming the inclusion
 42    of ground water irrigators as members of the district shall  be  certified  by
 43    the  board  president  and  secretary  and  filed for record in the recorder's
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    office of each county within which are situated any lands of the district  and
  2    notice  of the order shall be published in the manner of notices of elections.
  3    Any person who properly has filed an objection to inclusion as a member  shall
  4    have  the  right  to  appeal to the district court of the county in which such
  5    person's ground water right is situated, provided such appeal  shall  be  made
  6    within  thirty (30)  days from the date of publication of the order confirming
  7    such inclusion. After said thirty (30) day appeal period, no  one  shall  have
  8    any  cause or right of action to contest the legality, formality or regularity
  9    of said order of inclusion for any reason  whatsoever,  and  thereafter,  said
 10    inclusion  and  the constitution and validity of the district shall be consid-
 11    ered valid and incontestable without limitation. Any  ground  water  irrigator
 12    who  previously was not a member of the district as of March 31, 2005, that is
 13    included as a member upon order of the board shall be liable for  his  propor-
 14    tionate share of all costs of the district incurred after such date, including
 15    his  proportionate share of all bonded, warrant or other indebtedness incurred
 16    prior to March 31, 2005, but  only  the  proportionate  share  of  such  prior
 17    indebtedness applicable to the period after March 31, 2005.
 18        (2)  All  nonirrigators  within  the  boundaries of the district who voted
 19    according to notice as provided in section 42-5210(3), Idaho Code, are members
 20    of the district as specified in such notice.
 21        (3)  A nonirrigator also may become a member of a district  by  providing,
 22    within sixty (60) days after the date on which the district is formed, written
 23    notice to the district board that the nonirrigator wishes to join the district
 24    either  as  a  member  for all purposes or as a member for mitigation purposes
 25    only. Upon providing such notice, the nonirrigator shall be  either  a  member
 26    for all purposes or a member for mitigation purposes only, as specified in the
 27    notice,  and  shall  be  subject to assessment accordingly as provided in this
 28    chapter.  After such sixty (60) day period, a nonirrigator may become a member
 29    of a district only through the  annexation  procedure  described  in  sections
 30    42-5245 through 42-5249, Idaho Code.
 31        (4)  Except as provided for municipal, commercial, industrial, federal and
 32    tribal  ground  water users in subsection (1) of this section nonirrigators as
 33    defined in subsection (11) of section 42-5201, Idaho Code,  any  person  whose
 34    permit, license, or other entitlement to appropriate ground water was acquired
 35    after the formation of the district, or who appropriates ground water for uses
 36    not requiring a permit after the formation of the district, but qualifies as a
 37    ground  water user under subsection (8) of section 42-5201, Idaho Code, within
 38    the area of the district in all  other  respects,  shall  be  deemed  included
 39    within  and  subject  to  assessment  by  the  district,  if benefitted either
 40    directly or indirectly by the district as of the date the permit, license,  or
 41    entitlement is acquired.
                                                                        
 42        SECTION  2.  That  Section 42-5232, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 43    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 44        42-5232.  LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS. (1) The secretary of the board shall be the
 45    assessor of the district, and on or before August 1 of each year shall prepare
 46    an assessment book containing a full and accurate list of all lands within the
 47    district that are subject to assessment under this chapter.
 48        (2)  At a regular meeting of the board between August 1 and November 1  of
 49    each  year,  the board of directors shall determine the amount necessary to be
 50    raised for payment of the annual payment on any and all  indebtedness  of  the
 51    district  for  the  following year.  Money received in payment of such assess-
 52    ments shall be deposited in a separate fund to be known as the debt retirement
 53    fund.
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1        (3)  The board shall, in addition, determine the assessments necessary  to
  2    pay,  without limitation, the expenses of developing, operating or maintaining
  3    any mitigation plan established by the district and the cost of contracts with
  4    any person for mitigation plans, or evaluation of  proposed  contracts.  Money
  5    received  in payment of such assessments shall be deposited in a separate fund
  6    to be known as the mitigation expense fund.
  7        (4)  The board shall, in addition, determine the assessments necessary  to
  8    pay  maintenance and operation of the district not related to mitigation plans
  9    or purposes. These operation and maintenance duties include making the assess-
 10    ment book, giving notice of assessments and making  collections  thereof,  and
 11    other  duties, programs or projects of the district to the extent such duties,
 12    programs or projects are not attributable to  mitigation  plans  or  purposes.
 13    Money received in payment of such assessments shall be deposited in a separate
 14    fund of the district to be known as the operating expense fund.
 15        (5)  Any  ground water user who becomes a member of a district for mitiga-
 16    tion purposes shall be subject to no assessment beyond his proportional  share
 17    of the costs, including administrative costs and other reasonable expenses, of
 18    any  mitigation plan or actions or activities in furtherance of the district's
 19    mitigation plans or purposes.
 20        (6)  No assessment made pursuant to this chapter shall be a  lien  against
 21    any municipal property.
 22        (7)  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, each member shall pay a
 23    proportionate  share  of  the total of all amounts to be assessed for the pur-
 24    poses aforementioned, which share shall be based on the ratio which the  quan-
 25    tity  of  water the water user is authorized to appropriate under the member's
 26    ground water right(s) bears to the total  quantity  of  water  authorized  for
 27    appropriation  under  the  ground  water rights of all water users in the dis-
 28    trict, provided, that the board shall be entitled  to  levy  assessments  that
 29    adjust  a  member's  proportionate  share  to take into consideration priority
 30    dates, consumptive use under the  members'  respective  ground  water  rights,
 31    other attributes of the ground water rights appurtenant to the assessed lands,
 32    and/or  the benefits the member derives from a mitigation plan or other activ-
 33    ity of the district. Any nonirrigator who is a member of a ground  water  dis-
 34    trict, or whose ground water rights are appurtenant to property located within
 35    a ground water district, and who has adopted and implemented a mitigation plan
 36    that  has been approved by the director and that is not inconsistent with such
 37    a plan approved by the director and adopted  and  implemented  by  the  ground
 38    water district, shall be entitled to an assessment credit for the contribution
 39    made  by that nonirrigator's mitigation plan towards the district's mitigation
 40    obligation as determined by the director.
                                                                        
 41        SECTION 3.  That Section 42-5244, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 42    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 43        42-5244.  PROHIBITION  AGAINST  PARTICIPATION IN MITIGATION PLAN WHEN SUB-
 44    JECT TO DELINQUENT ASSESSMENT OR FOR NONPAYMENT OF OTHER MITIGATION  COSTS.  A
 45    ground  water  user who is delinquent in the payment of any assessment against
 46    his water use under this chapter, or who has failed to  pay  other  mitigation
 47    costs owed to the district when due, is prohibited from being a participant in
 48    any mitigation plan until such delinquent assessment, or other past due amount
 49    owed  for  mitigation  costs,  is paid in full. The district shall provide the
 50    director a report of such delinquent assessments, or other past due mitigation
 51    costs, at the first of each month for purposes of enforcement. Prior to under-
 52    taking enforcement, the director may require from the district  an  accounting
 53    of  the basis for the assessment and other mitigation costs and the apportion-
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    ment of those assessments and costs among district members and nonmember  par-
  2    ticipants.    The district shall inform the director immediately upon the pay-
  3    ment of any such delinquent assessment, or other past  due  mitigation  costs.
  4    This  section  shall  be  enforced  by  the watermaster within water districts
  5    established under chapter 6 of this title, and by  the  director  pursuant  to
  6    sections  42-351 and 42-1701B, Idaho Code, in areas outside of such water dis-
  7    trict.
                                                                        
  8        SECTION 4.  That Section 42-5251, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
  9    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 10        42-5251.  PETITION  FOR EXCLUSION OF LANDS -- GROUND WATER IRRIGATED LANDS
 11    -- LANDS OF NONIRRIGATOR -- LANDS MAY REMAIN IN THE  DISTRICT  FOR  MITIGATION
 12    PURPOSES.  (1)  Any district member who is an irrigator may file with the dis-
 13    trict board a  petition  requesting  that  the  member's  irrigated  lands  be
 14    excluded  from the district. The petition may request that the lands either be
 15    excluded for all purposes or be excluded for all purposes  except  mitigation.
 16    The  petition shall be signed by each petitioner, and shall state that contin-
 17    ued inclusion of the irrigated lands  in  the  district  is  inappropriate  or
 18    unwarranted:
 19        (1a)  Because  the diversions of ground water under the ground water users
 20        irrigator's water right have no depletive  effect  on  any  water  source,
 21        either  individually  or  cumulatively when considered in conjunction with
 22        other similar diversions;
 23        (2b)  Because the only ground water use associated with the  lands  sought
 24        to be excluded by the petition is a domestic or stock water use as defined
 25        by sections 42-111 and 42-1401A, Idaho Code;
 26        (3c)  Because  the  exclusion  of the lands will not impair the district's
 27        ability to repay debt or carry out mitigation plans;
 28        (4d)  Because the exclusion is in the best interests of the  district  and
 29        its members; or
 30        (5e)  For other compelling reasons.
 31    The  board  shall consider the petition and, based on findings concerning such
 32    factors, the board shall grant or deny the petition within ninety (90) days of
 33    the date it is filed, unless the board, in its sole discretion, grants a hear-
 34    ing on the petition within such time period, in which  case  the  board  shall
 35    issue  a  final  decision  within  sixty (60) days after the conclusion of the
 36    hearing.
 37        (2)  Any district member who is a nonirrigator, may file with the district
 38    board a petition requesting that the member's lands be excluded from the  dis-
 39    trict. The petition may request that the lands either be excluded for all pur-
 40    poses or be excluded for all purposes except mitigation. The petition shall be
 41    signed  by each petitioner, but need not be acknowledged. The board shall con-
 42    sider the petition and grant or deny the petition within ninety (90)  days  of
 43    the date it is filed, unless the board, in its sole discretion, grants a hear-
 44    ing  on  the  petition  within such time period, in which case the board shall
 45    issue a final decision within sixty (60) days  after  the  conclusion  of  the
 46    hearing.
 47        (3)  All  costs  incurred by the district in carrying out the an exclusion
 48    proceeding shall be assessed as provided in section  42-5253,  Idaho  Code.  A
 49    person  purchasing  land  under  a  written contract shall be deemed to be the
 50    owner of that land for purposes of this section.
                                                                        
 51        SECTION 5.  An emergency existing  therefor,  which  emergency  is  hereby
 52    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1    passage and approval.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                            RS 16108C1

This legislation amends existing law relating to ground water
districts; to clarify membership for nonirrigators; to provide
that a nonirrigator who is a member of a ground water district or
whose ground water rights are appurtenant to property located
within a ground water district shall be entitled to credit for
the contribution made by that nonirrigator's mitigation plan
towards the district's mitigation obligation; to allow IDWR to
review assessments on nonmember participants for fairness; and to
provide for the equitable petition of exclusion of lands from a
ground water district by a nonirrigator. 



                           FISCAL NOTE

There is no fiscal impact to any state agency.




Contact
Name: Representative John A. Stevenson 
Phone: (208) 332-1000


STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                         H 736