(1) (a) (I) For the purposes of contributing to and monitoring the conservation, use, development, and financing of the water resources of Colorado for the general welfare of its inhabitants and to review and propose water resources legislation, there is hereby created the water resources review committee, referred to in this article 98 as the "committee". The committee shall meet at the call of the chair as often as six times during even-numbered years and eight times during oddnumbered years to review and to propose water resources legislation and matters relating thereto. No more than two of such meetings may occur while the general assembly is in session. In connection with such review, the committee may take up to two field trips per year in connection with its mandate and shall consult with experts in the field of water conservation, quality, use, finance, and development. The department of natural resources, the state engineer, and the attorney general, together with the members and staff of the Colorado water conservation board, the Colorado water resources and power development authority, the water quality control commission, the department of public health and environment, the department of agriculture, and the great outdoors Colorado program, shall cooperate with the committee and with any persons assisting the committee in pursuing its responsibilities pursuant to this section. Further, the committee may utilize the legislative council staff to assist its members in researching any matters.
(II) (A) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section, the committee shall not meet or take field trips during the 2020 interim.
(B) This subsection (1)(a)(II) is repealed, effective July 1, 2021.
(b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2003, p. 718, § 2, effective March 20, 2003.)
(2) (a) The committee shall consist of ten members of the general assembly to be selected as follows:
Five members of the committee shall be from the senate, three appointed by thepresident of the senate and two appointed by the minority party leader; and
Five members of the committee shall be from the house of representatives, appointedby the speaker of the house of representatives after consultation with the minority leader of the house of representatives.
(b) At least four members of the committee shall either:
Reside in that portion of the state that is west of the continental divide; or
Represent a legislative district the majority of the population of which lies west ofthe continental divide.
To the extent possible, the members shall be selected so as to achieve representationfrom each water division as defined in section 37-92-201.
(I) Except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (d), members' termsshall extend from January 1 of an odd-numbered year to December 31 of the following evennumbered year.
(II) The terms of the members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the minority leader of the senate and who are serving on March 22, 2007, shall be extended to and expire on or shall terminate on the convening date of the first regular session of the sixty-seventh general assembly. As soon as practicable after such convening date, the speaker, the president, and the minority leader of the senate shall appoint or reappoint members in the same manner as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2). Thereafter, the terms of members appointed or reappointed by the speaker, the president, and the minority leader of the senate shall expire on the convening date of the first regular session of each general assembly, and all subsequent appointments and reappointments by the speaker, the president, and the minority leader of the senate shall be made as soon as practicable after such convening date. The person making the original appointment or reappointment shall fill any vacancy by appointment for the remainder of an unexpired term. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and shall continue in office until the member's successor is appointed.
The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shallcoordinate their appointments to the extent practicable.
Members of the committee shall serve without compensation; except that each member shall receive the sums specified in section 2-2-307 (3)(a) and (3)(b), C.R.S., for attendance at meetings of the committee when the general assembly is in recess for more than three days or is not in session.
During odd-numbered years, the president of the senate shall appoint the chair andthe speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the vice-chair, and during evennumbered years, the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the chair and the president of the senate shall appoint the vice-chair.
(Deleted by amendment, L. 2002, p. 1099, § 1, effective June 3, 2002.)
Source: L. 2001: Entire article added, p. 726, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2002: (1), (2)(b), and (6) amended, p. 1099, § 1, effective June 3. L. 2003: (1) and (5) amended, p. 718, § 2, effective March 20. L. 2004: (2)(d) added, p. 162, § 1, effective March 17. L. 2007: (2)(d) amended, p. 190, § 28, effective March 22. L. 2010: (1)(a) amended, (SB 10-213), ch. 375, p. 1764, § 11, effective June 7. L. 2020: (1)(a) amended, (SB 20-214), ch. 200, p. 983, § 10, effective June 30.