SB208 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

William “Bill” M. BeasleySenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Tammy IronsGerald O. DialJerry L. FieldingGerald H. AllenRoger Bedford, Jr.Arthur OrrCam WardTom Whatley

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Environment, Alabama Drought Assessment and Planning Team established, power and duties, the Monitoring and Impacts Group Subcommittee established, membership, duties, responsibilities

Summary

This act creates a statewide drought planning and response framework by codifying ADAPT and MIG, establishing a state drought plan, and granting drought-declaration and emergency powers to coordinate water use.

What This Bill Does

It codifies the Alabama Drought Assessment and Planning Team (ADAPT) and its Monitoring and Impacts Group (MIG) subcommittee, including who can serve and what they do. It assigns the Alabama Office of Water Resources (a division of ADECA) to develop a State Drought Plan, set procedures, and issue drought declarations. It gives the Governor emergency powers to respond to extreme droughts and allows rules to manage water use. It requires community water systems to create drought conservation plans, report restrictions or status to the state, and establishes a system for sharing drought-related information.

Who It Affects

• Community public water systems and their customers: must develop drought conservation plans with staged response measures and may face restrictions; must report actions to the Office of Water Resources and share information about water supplies and restrictions.
• State and local agencies and program administrators (OWR, ADECA, AEMA, ADEM, ADCNR, State Climatologist, watershed authorities, NRCS, Soil and Water Conservation, and related entities, plus potential federal partners): gain new roles and responsibilities for drought planning, monitoring, coordination, and declarations, including participation in ADAPT/MIG and data sharing.

Key Provisions

• ADAPT is established with defined members and a chair from the OWR; MIG is created as a standing subcommittee to collect drought-related data and advise ADAPT.
• OWR must publish a State Drought Plan detailing drought levels, operating procedures for ADAPT and MIG, data collection/dissemination, drought declarations, inputs to the drought monitor, conservation measures, and public information; the plan must be updated at least every five years.
• ADAPT duties include assessing drought conditions, advising the Governor on drought emergencies, recommending water withdrawal restrictions, establishing operating procedures, and administering funds with ADECA providing support; MIG collects data on rainfall, streams, reservoirs, soil moisture, groundwater, and impacts, and can propose mitigation actions.
• OWR, with ADAPT input, may issue drought declarations that describe affected areas and severity, based on meteorological and hydrological data and impacts on water supplies, agriculture, industry, recreation, and habitats.
• The Governor may declare a state of emergency and issue orders to restrict or reduce water withdrawals and allocate water as needed, with geographic scope defined and restrictions lasting while the drought threat continues.
• Community public water systems must develop drought conservation plans with enforcement measures and submit copies to OWR (and provide to ADEM on request).
• OWR must maintain a drought information clearinghouse and require reporting of restrictions and water supply status, making information available publicly.
• The Office of Water Resources may promulgate rules consistent with the act.
• State Climatologist coordination with OWR for drought monitor inputs is required, and the drought plan must include this coordination.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval, and its provisions are severable.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Environment