45-2103 - Arizona water protection fund commission

A. The Arizona water protection fund commission is established and consists of two ex officio members and fifteen appointed members who are residents of this state and who have demonstrated an interest in natural resources appointed as follows:

1. One person representing a multi-county water conservation district established pursuant to title 48, chapter 22, named by that district's governing board.

2. Three persons representing municipalities that have entered into a subcontract for central Arizona project water. One person shall be from a county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons according to the most recent United States decennial census, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one person from a county with a population of more than five hundred thousand persons but less than one million two hundred thousand persons according to the most recent United States decennial census appointed by the president of the senate and one person from a county with a population greater than one million two hundred thousand persons according to the most recent United States decennial census appointed by the governor.

3. One person representing agriculture, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

4. One person representing natural resource conservation districts established pursuant to title 37, chapter 6, appointed by the governor.

5. Four members of the public with at least a bachelor's degree in biology, botany, ecology, geology, geography, hydrology, resource economics or zoology and who have significant work related experience in the area of water resources management and conservation or natural resources management and conservation. One person shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, two persons shall be appointed by the president of the senate and one person shall be appointed by the governor. At least one of the members shall be from a county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons according to the most recent United States decennial census.

6. Two persons who are knowledgeable in water resource issues related to riparian ecosystems and who have been recommended by at least one environmental organization that is incorporated under the laws of this state or that for federal tax purposes files under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code and whose purpose includes the protection, conservation or restoration of this state's rivers and streams and associated riparian habitats, including fish and wildlife resources that are dependent on these habitats, appointed by the governor.

7. One person representing an agricultural improvement district established pursuant to title 48, chapter 17 who has at least a bachelor's degree in biology, botany, ecology, geology, geography, hydrology, resource economics or zoology and who has significant work related experience in the area of natural resources conservation appointed by the governor.

8. One person representing an Indian tribe appointed by the chairman of the intertribal council of Arizona.

9. One person representing an industrial water user who has entered into a subcontract for central Arizona project water appointed by the governor.

10. As nonvoting ex officio members, the director of the department of water resources and the state land commissioner.

B. Members of the commission shall be appointed for staggered terms of three years. A member may serve more than one term and may continue to serve beyond the expiration of the term until a successor is appointed and assumes office.

C. On request, members who are not ex officio members of the commission are eligible to receive compensation pursuant to section 38-611, not to exceed three thousand dollars in any calendar year, and are eligible for reimbursement for expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2.

D. Members of the commission are immune from liability for any action necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.