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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR ENGROSSED
HOUSE BILL 3636 By: Dempsey and Humphrey of the
House
and
Bullard of the Senate
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
An Act relating to water and water rights; creating
the Oklahoma Water Economic Impact Study Act;
creating the Oklahoma Water Econo mic Impact Study
Fund; stating purpose of fund; making fund continuing
and nonfiscal; stating sources of revenue ;
establishing procedures of expenditur es of monies
accruing to the credit of the fund; authorizing the
Oklahoma Water Resources Board to conduct instream
flow studies on certain bodies of water ; requiring
studies to include certain information and
recommendations; requiring submission of com pleted
study to certain entities; providing for promulgation
of rules by Oklahoma Water Resources Board; providing
for codification; providing an effective date ; and
declaring an emergency .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of l aw to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1702 of Title 82, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, rea ds as follows:
A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma
Water Economic Impact Study Act”.
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B. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to be designated the
“Oklahoma Water Economic Impact Study Fund ” for the purpose of
conducting instream flow studies . The revolving fund shall be a
continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall
consist of all monies received by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board
from the appropriations, apportionments, donations, federal grants,
and fee revenues designated for the purposes of implementing the
provisions of this act. All monies accruing to the credit of the
fund may be budgeted and expended by the Secretary of Energy and
Environment, in agreement w ith the Executive Director of the
Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Expenditures from the fund shall be
made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims
filed as prescribed by law with the Di rector of the Office of
Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
C. 1. The Secretary of Energy and Environment and the
Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water R esources Board shall
confer for the consideration of conducting a water economic impact
study. Water economic impact studies shall be con ducted for the
purpose of educating stakeholders on the value of all uses of the
particular body of water at the subject of a study pursuant to this
act. A study conducted pursuant to this act shall have the goals of
informing communities and st akeholders about the protection,
conservation, recreational use, and economic development of wa ter
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resources and to encourage the protection of the rights of the
citizens of this state to use water for riparian and domestic use as
authorized pursuant to Section 105.2 of Title 82 of the Oklahoma
Statutes.
2. Water economic impact studies shall only be conducted on the
Little River in McCurtain County, the Glover River in McCurtain
County, and the Mountain Fork River in McCurtain Count y. Any water
economic impact study conducted pursuant to this act shal l commence
upon the availability of funds.
D. The Oklahoma Water Resource s Board may work in cooperation
with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to conduct any water
economic impact study conducted under this act . A final copy of the
completed instream flow study shall be submitted to the Governor,
the President Pro Tempore of the Senate , the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the Secretary of Energy and Environment.
E. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board may promulgate rules to
implement the provisions of this act.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2022.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
58-2-3749 RJ 3/31/2022 9:58:01 AM