HB631 Summary

• Authorizes creation of water supply reservoir watershed management authorities as public corporations to protect and sustain water quality of subject reservoirs and associated watersheds.

• Establishes formation process requiring three or more residents to petition county commission; county commission holds hearing within 30 days to determine practicability and feasibility; allows multi-county watersheds to form joint petitions.

• Authority governed by board of directors consisting of three directors appointed by county commission, three by city council of county seat (if purchasing water), and one director per water system purchasing water from the reservoir.

• Board has powers to acquire land and permits, construct structures, borrow money, adopt watershed management plans, conduct water quality monitoring, and seek funding from federal, state, local, and private sources while respecting regulatory authority of state environmental and agricultural departments.

• Authority employees may participate in state retirement and health insurance programs; authority property is tax-exempt; board members serve staggered 2-4 year terms and must reflect racial, gender, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the geographic area.