74-2622. Kansas water authority; membership; appointment; qualifications; terms; compensation and allowances; powers and duties; application of K-GOAL. (a) There is hereby established within and as a part of the Kansas water office the Kansas water authority. The authority shall be composed of 24 members of whom 13 shall be appointed as follows: (1) One member shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate as provided in K.S.A. 75-4315b, and amendments thereto. Except as provided by K.S.A. 46-2601, and amendments thereto, such person shall not exercise any power, duty or function as a member or chairperson of the water authority until confirmed by the senate. Such member shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and shall be the chairperson of the authority; (2) except as provided by subsection (b), 10 members shall be appointed by the governor for terms of four years. Of the members appointed under this provision one shall be a representative of large municipal water users, one shall be representative of small municipal water users, one shall be a board member of a western Kansas groundwater management district, one shall be a board member of a central Kansas groundwater management district, one shall be a member of the Kansas association of conservation districts, one shall be representative of industrial water users, one shall be a member of the state association of watershed districts, one shall have a demonstrated background and interest in water use conservation and environmental issues, and two shall be representative of the general public. The member who is representative of large municipal water users shall be appointed from three nominations submitted by the league of Kansas municipalities. The member who is representative of small municipal water users shall be appointed from three nominations submitted by the Kansas rural water district's association. The member who is representative of a western Kansas groundwater management district shall be appointed from three nominations submitted by the presidents of the groundwater management district boards No. 1, 3 and 4. The member who is representative of a central Kansas groundwater management district shall be appointed from three nominations submitted by the presidents of the groundwater management district boards No. 2 and 5. The member who is representative of industrial water users shall be appointed from three nominations submitted by the Kansas association of commerce and industry. The member who is representative of the state association of watershed districts shall be appointed from three nominations submitted by the state association of watershed districts. The member who is representative of the Kansas association of conservation districts shall be appointed from three nominations submitted by the state association of conservation districts. If the governor cannot make an appointment from the original nominations, the nominating authority shall be so advised and, within 30 days thereafter, shall submit three new nominations. Members appointed by the governor shall be selected with special reference to training and experience with respect to the functions of the Kansas water authority, and no more than six of such members shall belong to the same political party; (3) one member shall be appointed by the president of the senate for a term of two years; and (4) one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives for a term of two years. The state geologist, the state biologist, the chief engineer of the division of water resources of the Kansas department of agriculture, the director of the division of environment of the department of health and environment, the chairperson of the state corporation commission, the secretary of commerce, the director of the Kansas water office, the secretary of wildlife, parks and tourism, the administrative officer of the state conservation commission, the secretary of agriculture and the director of the agricultural experiment stations of Kansas state university of agriculture and applied science shall be nonvoting members ex officio of the authority. The director of the Kansas water office shall serve as the secretary of the authority.

(b) A member appointed pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall be appointed for a term expiring on January 15 of the fourth calendar year following appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified.

(c) In the case of a vacancy in the appointed membership of the Kansas water authority, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment in the same manner that the original appointment was made. Appointed members of the authority attending regular or special meetings thereof shall be paid compensation, subsistence allowances, mileage and other expenses as provided in K.S.A. 75-3223, and amendments thereto.

(d) The Kansas water authority shall:

(1) Consult with and be advisory to the governor, the legislature and the director of the Kansas water office.

(2) Review plans for the development, management and use of the water resources of the state by any state or local agency.

(3) Make a study of the laws of this state, other states and the federal government relating to conservation and development of water resources, appropriation of water for beneficial use, flood control, construction of levees, drainage, irrigation, soil conservation, watershed development, stream control, gauging of stream and stream pollution for the purpose of determining the necessity or advisability of the enactment of new or amendatory legislation in this state on such subjects.

(4) Make recommendations to other state agencies and political subdivisions of the state for the coordination of their activities relating to flood control, construction of levees, drainage, irrigation, soil conservation, watershed development, stream control, gauging of stream, stream pollution and groundwater studies.

(5) Make recommendations to each regular session of the legislature and to the governor at such times as the authority considers advisable concerning necessary or advisable legislation relating to any of the matters or subjects which it is required by this act to study for the purpose of making recommendations to the legislature. All such recommendations to the legislature shall be in drafted bill form together with such explanatory information and data as the authority considers advisable.

(6) Approve, prior to submission to the legislature by the Kansas water office or its director: (A) Any contract entered into pursuant to the state water plan storage act; (B) any amendments to the state water plan or the state water planning act; and (C) any other legislation concerning water resources of the state.

(7) Approve, before they become effective, any policy changes proposed by the Kansas water office concerning the pricing of water for sale pursuant to the state water plan storage act.

(8) Approve, before it becomes effective, any agreement entered into with the federal government by the Kansas water office.

(9) Request any agency of the state, which shall have the duty upon that request, to submit its budget estimate pertaining to the state's water resources and any plans or programs related thereto and, upon the authority's receipt of such budget estimate, review and evaluate it and furnish recommendations relating thereto to the governor and the legislature.

(10) Approve, prior to adoption by the director of the Kansas water office, rules and regulations authorized by law to be adopted.

(11) Approve, prior to adoption by the director of the Kansas water office, guidelines for conservation plans and practices developed pursuant to subsection (c) of K.S.A. 74-2608, and amendments thereto.

(e) The Kansas water authority may appoint citizens' advisory committees to study and advise on any subjects upon which the authority is required or authorized by this act to study or make recommendations.

(f) The provisions of the Kansas governmental operations accountability law apply to the Kansas water authority, and the authority is subject to audit, review and evaluation under such law.

History: L. 1981, ch. 302, § 10; L. 1981, ch. 299, § 42; L. 1982, ch. 347, § 35; L. 1982, ch. 311, § 1; L. 1982, ch. 312, § 4; L. 1986, ch. 396, § 10; L. 1988, ch. 296, § 1; L. 1989, ch. 118, § 180; L. 1990, ch. 276, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 116, § 36; L. 1993, ch. 216, § 1; L. 1995, ch. 241, § 10; L. 2000, ch. 29, § 2; L. 2003, ch. 154, § 27; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 128; L. 2005, ch. 186, § 18; L. 2012, ch. 47, § 92; July 1.