Colorado River Drought Task Force
SB23-295
Last Action: Sent to the Governor 05/17/2023
Concerning the creation of the Colorado river drought task force, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
SESSION: 2023 Regular Session
SUBJECT: Water
BILL SUMMARY
The bill creates the Colorado river drought task force (task force). The members of the task force must, to the extent practicable, reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the state and have experience with a wide range of water issues. The task force must begin meeting no later than July 31, 2023, and may hold up to 12 meetings in the 2023 legislative interim.
The purpose of the task force is to develop recommendations for state legislation that provides additional tools for the Colorado water conservation board to collaborate with the Colorado river water conservation district, the southwestern water conservation district, and other relevant stakeholders in the development of programs that address drought in the Colorado river basin and interstate commitments related to the Colorado river and its tributaries through conservation of the waters of the Colorado river and its tributaries (recommendations).
The bill also requires the task force to establish a sub-task force to study tribal matters (sub-task force) and provide additional recommendations for state legislation.
No later than December 15, 2023, the task force and the sub-task force must submit a written report that includes the recommendations and a summary of the task force's and sub-task force's work to the water resources and agriculture review committee.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)