82a-1205. Administration and enforcement of Kansas groundwater exploration and protection act; license fees; licenses; inspection; personnel; report. (a) The secretary shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this act and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

(b) The secretary shall fix by rules and regulations reasonable license fees annually for each contractor and for each drill rig operated by or for such contractor. The secretary shall fix by rules and regulations an additional fee for each water well drilled except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of K.S.A. 82a-1203 and amendments thereto. Such fees shall be in an amount, which, together with any other funds available therefor, will produce an amount, which will properly administer the provisions of this act. Any nonresident may secure a water well contractor's license in Kansas upon approval of an application therefor by the secretary and the payment of a fee equal to the fee charged for a similar nonresident license by the state in which the applicant is a resident, but in no case shall the fee be less than that charged a Kansas resident.

(c) The secretary shall have the power and authority and may cause to be inspected water wells in all phases of construction, reconstruction, treatment or plugging, and shall have access to such wells at all reasonable times. The secretary shall have general supervision and authority over the construction, reconstruction and treatment of all water wells and the plugging of holes drilled and abandoned in search of a groundwater supply or hydrogeological information.

(d) The secretary may employ within funds available such engineering, geological, legal, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the proper performance of responsibilities under this act. Such employees shall be within the classified service under the Kansas civil service act.

(e) The secretary is authorized and directed to cause examination to be made of applicants for licensing; to renew such licenses; to adopt rules and regulations necessary to establish continuing educational requirements for persons licensed under this act; to issue licenses to qualified water well contractors in this state; to revoke or suspend licenses after their issuance is hereafter determined, after notice to the person affected and an opportunity for hearing; and to reinstate licenses previously revoked when justification therefor is shown.

(f) The secretary shall prepare, in the form and manner prescribed by law, a report on the administration of this act.

History: L. 1973, ch. 417, § 5; L. 1974, ch. 352, § 173; L. 1979, ch. 334, § 2; L. 1983, ch. 286, § 8; L. 1991, ch. 293, § 1; July 1.