1521.19 Water resources council - state agency coordinating group - advisory group.
1521.19 Water resources council - state agency coordinating group - advisory group.
(A) There is hereby created the Ohio water resources council consisting of the directors of agriculture, development, environmental protection, health, natural resources, transportation, and the Ohio public works commission, the chairperson of the public utilities commission of Ohio, the executive director of the Ohio water development authority, and an executive assistant in the office of the governor appointed by the governor. The governor shall appoint one of the members of the council to serve as its chairperson. The council may adopt bylaws that are necessary for the implementation of this section. The council shall provide a forum for policy development, collaboration and coordination among state agencies, and strategic direction with respect to state water resource programs. The council shall be assisted in its functions by a state agency coordinating group and an advisory group as provided in this section.
(B) The state agency coordinating group shall consist of the executive director of the Ohio Lake Erie commission and a member or members from each state agency, commission, and authority represented on the council, to be appointed by the applicable director, chairperson, or executive director. However, the environmental protection agency shall be represented on the group by the chiefs of the divisions within that agency having responsibility for surface water programs and drinking and ground water programs, and the department of natural resources shall be represented on the group by the chief of the division of soil and water resources. The chairperson of the council shall appoint a leader of the state agency coordinating group. The group shall provide assistance to and perform duties on behalf of the council as directed by the council.
(C) The advisory group shall consist of not more than twenty-four members, each representing an organization or entity with an interest in water resource issues. The council shall appoint the members of the advisory group. Of the initial appointments, not more than ten members shall be appointed for one-year terms, and not more than ten members shall be appointed for two-year terms. Of the four initial appointments made after April 6, 2007, two of the members shall be appointed for one-year terms, and two of the members shall be appointed for two-year terms. Thereafter, all advisory group members shall serve two-year terms. Members may be reappointed. Each member shall hold office from the date of the member’s appointment until the end of the member’s term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member’s term until the member’s successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. The council may remove a member for misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance in office. The council shall appoint members to fill any vacancies on the group. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the remainder of the term for which that member was appointed.
The chairperson of the council shall appoint a chairperson of the advisory group. The advisory group shall advise the council on water resources issues addressed by the council.
(D) There is hereby created in the state treasury the Ohio water resources council fund. The department of natural resources shall serve as the fiscal agent for the fund. The departments of agriculture, development, environmental protection, health, natural resources, and transportation shall transfer moneys to the fund in equal amounts via intrastate transfer voucher. The public utilities commission of Ohio, Ohio public works commission, and Ohio water development authority may transfer moneys to the fund. If a voluntary transfer of moneys is made to the fund, the portion that is required to be transferred by the departments of agriculture, development, environmental protection, health, natural resources, and transportation may be equally reduced. Moneys in the fund shall be used to pay the operating expenses of the Ohio water resources council, including those specified in division (E) of this section.
(E) The Ohio water resources council may hire staff to support its activities. The council may enter into contracts and agreements with federal agencies, state agencies, political subdivisions, and private entities to assist in accomplishing its objectives. Advisory group members shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to section 126.31 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules pertaining to travel reimbursement adopted by the office of budget and management.
Amended by 128th General Assembly File No. 9, HB 1, § 101.01, eff. 7/17/2009.
Effective Date: 09-05-2001; 04-06-2007