ENGROSSED

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 12

(By Senators Unger, Beach, Cann, Cookman, Fitzsimmons, Laird, McCabe, Miller, Palumbo, Plymale, Prezioso, Snyder, Wells, Yost, Chafin, Carmichael, Stollings, Kessler (Mr. President) and Green)

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[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; reported February 19, 2014.]

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Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, amending article II thereof, by adding thereto a new section, designated section nine, relating to protecting and conserving the water resources of the state for the citizens of West Virginia; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:

    That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2014, which proposed amendment is that article II thereof be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section nine, to read as follows:

ARTICLE II. THE STATE.

§9. Waters of the state.

    It shall be the policy of the State of West Virginia that the water resources of this state shall be protected, conserved, utilized and developed for the benefit, enjoyment and general welfare of its citizens consistent with and subject to the riparian rights and groundwater rights of the owners of real property.

    Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such proposed amendment is hereby numbered “Amendment No. 1" and designated as the “Protecting and Conserving West Virginia’s Water Resources for the Use and Benefit of its Citizens Amendment” and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: “The purpose of this amendment is to protect and preserve West Virginia’s water resources for present and future use and enjoyment.”