Opinion ID: 1224377
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: 45-113 Fees: refunds; administrative fund

Text: A. Except as otherwise prescribed, the director shall establish by rule and shall collect reasonable fees to cover the costs of administrative services and expenses. B. A permanent administrative fund is established in an amount of not more than ten thousand dollars for the purpose of making refunds on any fees erroneously paid to the department. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, at any time the administrative fund contains a balance of less than ten thousand dollars, the director may deposit in this fund monies collected by the director from any fees which may be subject to a claim for a refund. The monies in the administrative fund are exempt from lapsing under section 35-190. C. If the director determines that a fee, including a fee collected pursuant to section 45-611, has been erroneously paid during the same fiscal year or during any prior fiscal year, the director shall make an administrative adjustment or a refund, without interest, from the administrative fund to the current holder of the right, application or registration for which the fee was paid. D. This section does not apply to fees paid or payable under section 45-254, subsection F or section 45-255, subsection B. Sec. 3. Section 45-141, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 45-141. Public nature of waters of the state; beneficial use; reversion to state; actions not constituting abandonment or forfeiture A. The waters of all sources, flowing in streams, canyons, ravines or other natural channels, or in definite underground channels, whether perennial or intermittent, flood, waste or surplus water, and of lakes, ponds and springs on the surface, belong to the public and are subject to appropriation and beneficial use as provided in this chapter. B. Beneficial use shall be the basis, measure and limit to the use of water. AN APPROPRIATOR OF WATER IS ENTITLED TO BENEFICIALLY USE ALL OF THE WATER APPROPRIATED ON LESS THAN ALL OF THE LAND TO WHICH THE WATER RIGHT IS APPURTENANT, AND THIS BENEFICIAL USE OF THE WATER APPROPRIATED DOES NOT RESULT IN THE ABANDONMENT OR FORFEITURE OF ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE RIGHT. C. Except as otherwise provided in this title or in title 48, when the owner of a right to the use of water ceases or fails to use the water appropriated for five successive years, the right to the use shall cease, and the water shall revert to the public and shall again be subject to appropriation. THIS SUBSECTION OR ANY OTHER STATUTORY FORFEITURE BY NONUSE SHALL NOT APPLY TO A WATER RIGHT INITIATED BEFORE JUNE 12, 1919. D. Underground water storage, pursuant to chapter 3.1 of this title, for future beneficial use of waters appropriated pursuant to this chapter does not constitute an abandonment or forfeiture. E. THE FOLLOWING WATER EXCHANGE ARRANGEMENTS OR SUBSTITUTIONS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN ABANDONMENT OR FORFEITURE OF ALL OR ANY PORTION OF A RIGHT TO USE SURFACE WATER: