HB19-1015 Summary

• Creates the Colorado Water Institute as a unit of Colorado State University to develop and coordinate water-related research programs with other state institutions of higher education.

• Establishes the Institute's purposes including conducting scientific research on water development, storage, hydrology, water quality, drought planning, and climate change adaptation.

• Institutes a Director appointed by the CSU President with Board of Governors approval and an Advisory Committee with at least 11 members (8 appointed by the Director, 3 from state departments).

• Authorizes the Institute to accept gifts, grants, donations, and other funding from any entity, assess administrative fees up to 20 percent of project costs, and serve as an administrative entity for water research at Colorado universities.

• Establishes a continuously appropriated Water Research Fund in the state treasury consisting of prior fund balances, fees, gifts, grants, and donations, with interest and unspended money remaining in the fund.