HOUSE BILL 121

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

FOR THE WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR WATER PROJECTS OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Two hundred eighty million dollars ($280,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office of the state engineer for expenditure in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to initiate, plan and implement the following projects in the following amounts:

                (1) seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) for Indian water rights and regional community settlements, including the Navajo, Taos and Aamodt settlements;

                (2) forty-eight million dollars ($48,000,000) for the Pecos river settlement;

                (3) thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) for the middle Rio Grande collaborative program;

                (4) seven million dollars ($7,000,000) for the Gila river settlement;

                (5) seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) for the Ute pipeline project; and

                (6) fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) for acequia and dam safety improvements statewide.

          B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert to the general fund.

     Section 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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