1. (1) The impact board shall:

   1. (a) award grants and loans from the amounts appropriated by the Legislature out of the impact fund to state agencies, subdivisions, and interlocal agencies that are or may be socially or economically impacted, directly or indirectly, by mineral resource development for:

      1. (i) planning;
      2. (ii) construction and maintenance of public facilities; and
      3. (iii) provision of public services;
   2. (b) establish the criteria by which the loans and grants will be awarded;
   3. (c) determine the order in which projects will be funded;
   4. (d) in cooperation with other agencies of the state, subdivisions, or interlocal agencies, conduct studies, investigations, and research into the effects of proposed mineral resource development projects upon local communities;
   5. (e) sue and be sued in accordance with applicable law;

   6. (f) qualify for, accept, and administer grants, gifts, loans, or other funds from:

      1. (i) the federal government; and
      2. (ii) other sources, public or private; and
   7. (g) perform other duties required under Sections 11-13-306 and 11-13-307.

2. (2)

   1. (a) Subject to Subsection (2)(b), money, including all loan repayments and interest, in the impact fund received from bonus payments may be used for any purpose described in Subsection (1)(a).
   2. (b) Money received under Subsection (2)(a) may only be given in the form of interest bearing loans to be paid back into the impact fund by the agency, subdivision, or interlocal agency.
3. (3) The impact board may award a grant or loan under Subsection (1) whether the activity results in more than one impact or outcome, including an increase in natural resource development or an increase in economic development.

4. (4) If the public service described in Subsection (1)(a) is a contract with a public postsecondary institution described in Subsection 63N-22-502(9)(b)(iii), the contract shall be:

   1. (a) based on an application to the impact board from the impacted county; and
   2. (b) approved by the county legislative body.

5. (5) The impact board may:

   1. (a) appoint, when appropriate, a hearing examiner or administrative law judge with authority to conduct hearings, make determinations, and enter appropriate findings of facts, conclusions of law, and orders under authority of the impact board in accordance with Sections 11-13-306 and 11-13-307;
   2. (b) appoint additional professional and administrative staff necessary to perform the impact board's duties under Sections 11-13-306 and 11-13-307;
   3. (c) make independent studies regarding matters submitted to the impact board under Sections 11-13-306 and 11-13-307 that the impact board, in the impact board's discretion, considers necessary, which studies shall be made a part of the record and may be considered in the impact board's determination; and
   4. (d) make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement this part.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 393, 2026 General Session