Bill No.: HB0097                     Drafter:  DKG

LSO No.:   10LSO-0244                 Effective Date: VETOED

Enrolled Act No.:    HEA0052

Chapter No.:

Prime Sponsor:       Representative Harshman

Catch Title:         Nuclear energy production study.

Subject:   Task force study of nuclear energy production.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Creates a task force consisting of 7 members (2 Senators appointed by the Senate President, 2 Representatives appointed by the Speaker) and 3 other members appointed by the Governor.

· The task force is to be staffed by the LSO.

· The task force is to study a number of issues relating to the production of electricity from nuclear energy as follows:

o Potential incentives to encourage nuclear energy production in this state including taxation issues, use of unappropriated waters of the state and private and public sector partnerships;

o State regulatory provisions unduly restricting the development of nuclear power production;

o The role of local land use planning;

o Any relevant federal statutes that may preempt or limit state or county authority;

o Storage and reprocessing technologies, including short term and long term storage issues;

o The role of higher education within the state in developing nuclear energy production.

• The task force is to submit its recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee and the governor no later than November 1, 2010.
• The minerals committee is to consider the recommendations and develop legislation it deems appropriate for the 2011 session.

Comments: 

· Report Required – report required to the minerals committee and governor by November 1, 2010.

THIS BILL WAS VETOED.  In his veto message the Governor noted:

"If the Legislature wishes to have legislatively dominated task forces chaired by legislators, this should be done through Management Council or the committee of relevant jurisdiction."

"We should not be spending precious public dollars on a topic about which we are already quite familiar." (The bill contained total appropriations of $26,000 for task force member salary and travel.)