2015 SB 455/SB 542 NM Unit Reports to Legislature/NM Unit Fund & Stream Commission Actions

CVNM Position:

Support

Year:

2015

Sponsors:

Joseph Cervantes
Sander Rue

Topics:

Water

Legislative Info:

SB 455/SB 542 on nmlegis.gov »

Description

SB 455 required that the Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) provide a written report to the Legislature by November 1, 2015 that demonstrates the NM CAP Entity has the technical, legal and financial capacity to design, build, operate and maintain the Gila River diversion project (“NM Unit”) under the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA). The report would have required the signature of the State Engineer, and the Legislative Finance Committee would have to find that the report adequately addresses these issues prior to the NM CAP Entity signing the NM Unit Agreement. This bill would have brought needed fiscal responsibility and accountability to the AWSA planning process. SB 542 would have required public participation, greater transparency and accountability from the Interstate Stream Commission in its expenditures of Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA) federal funding. SB 542 would have amended and augmented the state law passed in 2011 creating the New Mexico Unit Fund that gave the ISC carte blanche over approximately $90 million in AWSA funds and require public oversight in expenditure of these funds.

Outcome

A Senate Conservation Committee substitute for SB 455 was offered which included provisions of SB 542. The Conservation Committee Substitute for SB 455 died in Senate Judiciary Committee.