HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2

TO

HOUSE BILL NO. 200

AMEND House Bill No. 200 on line 11 by inserting after “ resources ” and before “ as ” as they appear therein the following “ and natural infrastructure as the foundation for a healthy population and environment to sustain a high quality of life for residents, healthy habitats, as well ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 on line 13 by inserting after “ homes ” and before “ and ” as they appear therein the following: “ , farms, agricultural lands, ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 by inserting the following after line 17 and before line 18 and redesignating accordingly:

( ) It is important that priorities for clean water projects in this State be given to projects that utilize green infrastructure and enhancement of natural systems to provide ecological benefits that improve water quality, demonstrate a high ratio of nutrient or pollution reduction to the amount of funding, and improve of community resilience to extreme weather, sea level rise, and other climate impacts.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 on line 26 by inserting after “drainage” and before “and” as they appear therein the following: “ , stormwater, ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 by deleting lines 49 and 50 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“ (1) An annual report, titled “The Mulrooney Report”, accounting for the sources, benefits, and uses of the Clean Water Trust account and other water quality programs funded with State or federal resources including wastewater, stormwater and ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 on line 57 by inserting after “ goals ” the following: “ , including increased accessibility to low-income and traditionally underserved communities ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 by deleting lines 64 and 65 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“ (e) Prior to the publication of the initial Annual Report and Strategic Plan, the Committee shall hold at least 3 publicly noticed meetings in Dover to seek input and allow public comment. Thereafter, the Committee shall hold at least 1 publicly noticed meeting prior to publication of the Annual Report and annually updated Strategic Plan. All meetings under this subsection shall comply with § 10004 of this title. ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 on line 73 by deleting “ 14 ” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “ 16 ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 on line 79 by adding after “stormwater” and before “and” as they appear therein the following: “ , agricultural water use, ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 by deleting line 80 in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“government, public health, agriculture , and financial management , and 3 members representing non-profit environmental organizations, 1 of whom may represent an environmental justice organization . No more than 7 9 ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No 200 by deleting line 82 in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“ utilities, the president of 1 of the conservation districts, and a member of the Farm Bureau, all of whom shall serve as non-voting members of the Council, and at the pleasure of the Governor. The non-voting members may provide annual recommendations to the Council relating to stormwater, drainage, flood protection, resource and conservation development projects, agricultural and conservation cost share, cover crops, conservation reserve enhancement, and tax ditches. ”

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 200 by inserting after line 93 the following:

(f) The Council shall adopt all motions and approve the 6-year water supply and wastewater infrastructure plan, the assessment, and recommendations for loans or grants only by a majority vote of the entire voting membership of the Council. All voting shall be done in person and at regular or special meetings of the Council. The Council shall conduct a public meeting in each county prior to annual adoption of the 6-year water supply and wastewater infrastructure plan. The Council is subject to the applicable provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act [Chapter 101 of this title].

SYNOPSIS

This amendment names the annual report that the Clean Water Trust Oversight Committee must produce “The Mulrooney Report” after former Representative Michael Mulrooney. This amendment adds that the Strategic Plan include a prioritized list of proposed projects including those projects with increased accessibility to lower-income and traditionally underserved communities. The amendment increases the number of members to The Water Infrastructure Advisory Council by adding a member representing the water utilities, the president of 1 of the conservation districts, and a member of the Farm Bureau, who shall serve as non-voting members, and at the pleasure of the Governor. The Amendment provides that these nonvoting members may provide recommendations to the Council relating to stormwater, drainage, flood protection, resource and conservation development projects, agricultural and conservation cost share, cover crops, conservation reserve enhancement, and tax ditches. This amendment also makes clear that only the voting members of the Water Infrastructure Advisory Council can vote on motions, approve the 6-year water supply and wastewater infrastructure plan, the assessment, and recommendations for loans or grants. Finally, this amendment provides for at least 3 public meetings prior to publication of the initial Annual Report and Strategic Plan, and thereafter, at least 1 public meeting prior to publication of the Annual Report and annually updated Strategic Plan. All such meetings must comply with § 10004 of Title 29.