Bill Number: OK51RSB 127 Date: 02-20-2007
SENATE FLOOR VERSION
THE STATE SENATE
1 Tuesday, February 20, 2007
2 Senate Bill No. 127
3 SB 127
4 SENATE BILL NO. 127 - By: LERBLANCE of the Senate and RENEGAR
5 of the House.
6 An Act relating to hydropower; creating the Task Force on
7 Oklahoma Hydropower; stating purpose; stating duties; stating
8 membership; providing for certain meeting and election of officers;
9 providing for staffing; authorizing task force to present certain
10 recommendations; providing for certain travel reimbursement;
11 providing for noncodification; and declaring an emergency.
12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
13 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
14 codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
15 A. There is hereby created until December 31, 2009, the Task
16 Force on Oklahoma Hydropower. The purpose of the task force shall
17 be to study the economic and environmental impact hydropower has in
18 the state and to analyze the comparative value of the beneficial use
19 of water for generation of electricity versus other beneficial uses.
20 Specifically, the task force shall study, hold public hearings, and
21 make recommendations on:
22 1. The overall impact the use of water for generation of
23 electricity has on the economy of the state and the local economy of
24 areas surrounding the lakes or reservoirs where hydropower
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1 facilities are located, including, but not limited to, the impact on
2 tourism, recreation, and agriculture;
3 2. The overall impact the use of water for generation of
4 electricity has on the environment of the areas surrounding the
5 lakes or reservoirs where hydropower facilities are located,
6 including the impact on wildlife resources;
7 3. The type of hydrological and geohydrological studies that
8 need to be conducted for lakes and reservoirs on which hydropower
9 facilities are located; and
10 4. The assessment of a fee for the use of water for the
11 generation of electricity.
12 B. The task force shall be composed of thirteen (13) members
13 as follows:
14 1. One member of the House of Representatives to be appointed
15 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
16 2. One member of the State Senate to be appointed by the
17 President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
18 3. One member representing the Corporation Commission
19 selected by the Corporation Commission;
20 4. The Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board or a
21 designee;
22 5. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and
23 Recreation Department or a designee;
24 6. The General Manager of the Grand River Dam Authority or a
25 designee;
26 7. Two members appointed by the Governor, as follows:
27 a. one representative of the Oklahoma Municipal League,
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1 and
2 b. one representative of a rural electric cooperative
3 which purchases electricity generated by a hydropower facility in
4 the state;
5 8. Two members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the
6 Senate, as follows:
7 a. one from a lake association that is recognized by the
8 Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department as the official lake
9 association of a lake or reservoir on which there are hydropower
10 facilities; and
11 b. one representative of a permitted user of water from a
12 lake or reservoir on which a hydropower facility is located;
13 9. Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
14 Representatives, as follows:
15 a. one from a lake association that is recognized by the
16 Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department as the official lake
17 association of a lake or reservoir on which there are hydropower
18 facilities, and
19 b. one representative of a permitted user of water from a
20 lake or reservoir on which a hydropower facility is located; and
21 10. One member representing the Oklahoma Water Resources
22 Research Institute located at Oklahoma State University.
23 C. The first meeting of the task force shall be convened by
24 the Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. At the first
25 meeting, members of the task force shall select a chair and vice-
26 chair of the task force. The task force shall determine a regular
27 meeting schedule by majority vote of the members present at the
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1 first meeting and if necessary shall meet at the call of the chair.
2 D. Staffing assistance for the task force shall be provided
3 by the staff of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Technical
4 assistance for the task force shall be provided by the Oklahoma
5 Water Resources Board, the Oklahoma Geological Survey, and the
6 Corporation Commission.
7 E. The task force shall present legislative recommendations
8 to the Legislature as it deems necessary.
9 F. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation
10 for serving on the task force but may receive travel reimbursement
11 as follows:
12 1. Legislative members of the task force may be reimbursed
13 for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of duties,
14 in accordance with Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes,
15 from the legislative body in which they serve; and
16 2. Other members of the task force may be reimbursed for
17 necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of duties by
18 the respective agency or appointing authorities in accordance with
19 the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
20 SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the
21 preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is
22 hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take
23 effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
24 COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT, dated
25 2-15-07 - DO PASS, As Coauthored.
26 Req. No. \*Req. No.*\Page 1
27 SB127 SFLR1State Senate
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1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments)
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