Current law requires that the owner of a groundwater well (well)
permit file any change in name or mailing address with the state engineer in person, by mail, or by fax. The bill removes the requirement that the filing be in person, by mail, or by fax.
Current law requires the buyers of certain wells to complete a
change in owner name form before the closing of the transaction. The bill removes the requirement that the form be submitted before the closing of the transaction.
The bill clarifies that if an existing well being sold has not been
registered with the division of water resources (division), the buyer of the well must submit a registration of existing well form to the division within 63 days after closing the transaction.
Current law states that the division is responsible for obtaining the
necessary well registration information from the buyer after the purchase of a well. The bill removes this requirement and clarifies that a person who provides a closing service in connection with the purchase of a well must submit a change in owner name form for the well to the division, even if the well has not yet been registered with the division.
If a change in owner name form does not include a well permit
number, the bill requires the division to instruct the buyer of a well to complete a new change in owner name form or registration of existing well form and requires the buyer to submit the applicable form to the division.
