82a-955. Additional transfers from state general fund to state water plan fund; transfers from state water plan fund to water technical assistance fund and water projects grant fund; Kansas water authority recommendations for state water plan fund moneys; expiration of provisions of this section. (a) On July 1, 2023, the director of accounts and reports shall transfer $35,000,000 from the state general fund to the state water plan fund. It is the intent of the legislature to provide for the transfer of $35,000,000 from the state general fund to the state water plan fund on July 1, 2024, July 1, 2025, July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027.

(b) (1) The state water plan fund shall continue to be appropriated and expended for the purposes prescribed in K.S.A. 82a-951, and amendments thereto, except that if an appropriation is made for any fiscal year as intended in subsection (a), on July 1 of such fiscal year, or as soon thereafter on such dates as moneys are available:

(A) $5,000,000 shall be transferred from the state water plan fund to the water technical assistance fund established in K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 82a-956, and amendments thereto; and

(B) $12,000,000 shall be transferred from the state water plan fund to the water projects grant fund established in K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 82a-957, and amendments thereto.

(2) The provisions of this section shall expire on July 1, 2028. On July 1, 2028, the director of accounts and reports shall transfer all moneys in the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund to the state water plan fund and all liabilities of the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund shall be imposed upon the state water plan fund. On July 1, 2028, the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund shall be abolished.

(c) (1) (A) Notwithstanding any restrictions in K.S.A. 82a-951, and amendments thereto, the Kansas water authority may recommend to the legislature the appropriation of up to 10% of the unencumbered balance of the state water plan fund to be used to supplement salaries of existing state agency full-time equivalent employees and for funding new full-time equivalent positions created to implement the state water plan. Moneys from such appropriation may be used to supplement existing positions, but such moneys shall not be used to replace state general fund moneys, any fee fund moneys or other funding for positions existing on July 1, 2023.

(B) Eligible full-time equivalent positions that moneys may be used for pursuant to this paragraph include engineers, geologists, hydrologists, environmental scientists, attorneys, resource planners, grant specialists and any other similar positions.

(2) If at least two conservation districts present a joint proposal to the Kansas water authority for a position or positions to provide shared services to all districts involved in such proposal, the Kansas water authority may recommend that moneys be used to supplement the salary or salaries of such position or positions pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) The Kansas water authority shall encourage funding requests from state and local entities that cooperate with qualified nonprofit entities on projects that provide a direct benefit to water quantity and quality, including water infrastructures that are both natural and constructed, and include matching funds from non-state sources.

(4) The Kansas water authority may direct the Kansas water office to provide funding pursuant to K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 82a-956 or 82a-957, and amendments thereto, for the improvement of water infrastructure in an unincorporated area related to or serving a national park site or state historic site if the request for funding is made by a nonprofit organization or state agency that is willing to administer the moneys and oversee the project, and the Kansas water authority deems such applicant capable of successfully managing the project. Upon receipt of such a request, the Kansas water office may award moneys in any fiscal year prior to July 1, 2028, with such awarding of moneys to be made at the discretion of the Kansas water office.

(5) The Kansas water authority shall encourage the creation of grant programs for stockwatering conservation projects. Such grant programs shall prioritize the use of fees collected pursuant to K.S.A. 82a-954(a)(3), and amendments thereto.

(d) All reporting requirements established in K.S.A. 82a-951, and amendments thereto, shall continue and such reporting requirements shall apply to the water technical assistance fund established in K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 82a-956, and amendments thereto, and the water projects grant fund established in K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 82a-957, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2023, ch. 59, § 3; April 27.