41-2-118. Powers, duties, salaries and expenses of commission.

(a) The commission shall:

(i) Repealed by Laws 1992, ch. 42, § 4.

(ii) Have authority to contract for legal counsel upon approval of the governor to assist in matters related to water resource development as directed by the commission. By request of the commission and upon approval of the governor, the legal counsel shall be entitled to use monies appropriated for legal matters relating to water development. Legal counsel shall consult with the commission, director of the Wyoming water development office, state engineer and attorney general on a regular basis;

(iii) Submit an annual report of its activities, expenses, recommendations and other items to the governor and the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee by December 31;

(iv) Meet quarterly and as necessary and as the governor may direct;

(v) Biennially on or after March 1 elect a chairman from the nine (9) persons;

(vi) Establish and adjust priorities for water development projects;

(vii) Adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of W.S. 41-1-106 through 41-1-108 and 41-2-107 through 41-2-118, including establishment of qualifications for the administrator;

(viii) Perform other duties as directed by law;

(ix) As nearly as possible represent and assist all interests advocating water development and conservation in the state;

(x) Have the duty and the authority to conduct studies, develop plans, and recommend legislation which may be enacted for the purpose of securing full utilization of the waters of the state of Wyoming, giving priority to projects for utilization of waters not now being beneficially used in Wyoming;

(xi) Repealed by Laws 1992, ch. 42, § 4.

(xii) Establish an application fee not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) which shall be paid by potential project beneficiaries prior to commission consideration of a project for inclusion in the water development program. Application fees shall be deposited into water development account I;

(xiii) Represent or advocate the state's interests in negotiations and construction of water projects assigned by the legislature or the governor;

(xiv) Have authority to temporarily defer the principal amount due on debt service payments for money loaned to an irrigation district, watershed improvement district, conservation district or a conservancy district for construction of water development projects whenever the governor has declared that a drought emergency exists within the affected district's service area. The district shall be eligible for the temporary deferral of the principal amount due, provided the interest payments on the remaining principal amount are paid and current. The commission shall amend the amortization schedule to reflect the length of time from the date the affected district seeks the temporary deferral to the date the governor declares the emergency drought condition no longer exists;

(xv) With the approval of the governor, have the authority to enter into contracts and agreements with the United States of America or its duly authorized representative agency to accept federal funds through grants or matching funds or from other sources for project costs pertaining to the utilization of Wyoming's water resources; and

(xvi) Have authority to promulgate rules to delegate administrative duties to the Wyoming water development office to facilitate the effective operation of the commission.

(b) Commission members shall receive a salary of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per day and actual and necessary traveling expenses while away from home while engaged in the performance of commission duties.