SF 4331

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/29/2022 08:34am

A bill for an act
relating to water; establishing an Office of Water Policy; requiring reports;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
103A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [103A.101] OFFICE OF WATER POLICY.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Office of Water Policy is established. The office
consists of eight members appointed by the governor. One of the members must be selected
by the governor to serve as the director of the Office of Water Policy. The member
appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the senate.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Office; administration. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of administration must provide
administrative services for the Office of Water Policy.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin The purpose of the Office of Water Policy is to provide research and
analysis of policies and practices relating to groundwater and surface water use, protection,
and enhancement.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The Office of Water Policy must:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop improved methods for planning and assessing the water balance between
major aquifer systems and between groundwater and surface water and share that information
with state agencies, the legislature, and local governmental units;
new text end

new text begin (2) propose methods for securing private and public drinking water supplies by:
new text end

new text begin (i) developing a single assessment and management plan for public sources of drinking
water;
new text end

new text begin (ii) assessing plans for additional testing of private drinking water wells; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) addressing elevated lead and other contaminant levels in drinking water sources, in
cooperation with the commissioners of health and natural resources, by reviewing and
updating acceptable levels of contamination;
new text end

new text begin (3) cooperate with state agencies, businesses, research labs, volunteer organizations,
and other interested parties to develop methods of predicting and responding to contaminants
of emerging concern and collecting toxicological data and laboratory findings useful for
accurate screening of water contaminants with the potential to harm humans or the ecological
balance;
new text end

new text begin (4) advise appropriate agencies, legislative committees, and public works projects of
emerging technologies that could be used to replace, strengthen, or enhance water policy
objectives or improve their practice; and
new text end

new text begin (5) review and offer assessment of current policies and practices relating to groundwater
and surface water use with attention to the sustainability of those programs and the
advisability of replacing or modifying those policies.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Powers. new text end

new text begin The director of the Office of Water Policy may:
new text end

new text begin (1) direct and control money appropriated to the director;
new text end

new text begin (2) apply for, receive, and spend money for the purposes of this section;
new text end

new text begin (3) employ staff that the director considers necessary for the purposes of this section;
new text end

new text begin (4) enter into interdepartmental agreements with any other state agency; and
new text end

new text begin (5) enter into joint powers agreements under chapter 471.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 15 each year, the director of the Office of Water Policy
must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
and divisions with jurisdiction over the environment and natural resources on the office's
performance in achieving its purpose under this section and how money appropriated to the
office was expended.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the clean water fund to the director of
the Office of Water Policy for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 103A.101.
new text end

new text begin (b) $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the director of the
Office of Water Policy for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 103A.101.
new text end