(1) If, pursuant to federal or state law, any portion of Colorado has received emergency drought designation or a disaster emergency has been proclaimed due to drought, notwithstanding the provisions of section 39-29109 (1), C.R.S., in addition to any other moneys appropriated from the severance tax perpetual base fund, created by section 39-29-109 (2)(a), C.R.S., up to one million dollars in the severance tax perpetual base fund are continuously appropriated annually to the director of the Colorado water conservation board and the state engineer for use, in connection with the designation or proclamation, to make loans and grants to agricultural organizations for emergency droughtrelated water augmentation purposes.
(2) The director of the Colorado water conservation board and the state engineer shall consult with the commissioner of agriculture and the executive director of the department of natural resources before making any loans or grants pursuant to this section. Within three months after the end of any fiscal year during which the spending authority created pursuant to this section is exercised, the director and the state engineer shall report to the general assembly regarding how such spending authority was exercised.
Source: L. 2002, 3rd Ex. Sess.: Entire section added, p. 54, § 1, effective August 1. L. 2007: (1) amended, p. 1519, § 23, effective May 31. L. 2008: (1) amended, p. 1873, § 13, effective June 2. L. 2013: (1) amended, (SB 13-181), ch. 209, p. 873, § 23, effective May 13.