4-18-5 - Conservation commission -- Functions and duties.
4-18-5. Conservation commission -- Functions and duties.
(1) The commission shall:
(a) facilitate the development and implementation of the strategies and programsnecessary to protect, conserve, utilize, and develop the soil and water resources of the state;
(b) disseminate information regarding districts' activities and programs;
(c) supervise the formation, reorganization, or dissolution of districts according to therequirements of Title 17D, Chapter 3, Conservation District Act;
(d) prescribe uniform accounting and recordkeeping procedures for districts and requireeach district to submit annually an audit of its funds to the commission;
(e) approve and make loans for agricultural purposes, from the Agriculture ResourceDevelopment Fund for:
(i) nonfederal rangeland improvement and management projects;
(ii) watershed protection and flood prevention projects;
(iii) agricultural cropland soil and water conservation projects; and
(iv) programs designed to promote energy efficient farming practices;
(f) administer federal or state funds in accordance with applicable federal or stateguidelines and make loans or grants from those funds to land occupiers for the conservation ofsoil or water resources;
(g) seek to coordinate soil and water protection, conservation, and development activitiesand programs of state agencies, local governmental units, other states, special interest groups,and federal agencies; and
(h) plan watershed and flood control projects in cooperation with appropriate local, state,and federal authorities and coordinate flood control projects in the state.
(2) The commission may:
(a) employ, with the approval of the department, an administrator and necessary technicalexperts and employees;
(b) execute contracts or other instruments necessary to exercise its powers;
(c) sue and be sued; and
(d) adopt rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah AdministrativeRulemaking Act, necessary to carry out the powers and duties specified in Subsections (1)(d), (e),(f), and (2)(b).
Amended by Chapter 360, 2008 General Session
Amended by Chapter 382, 2008 General Session