AB36: Bill Text

LRB-0140/1

MGG:kjf:rs

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 36

January 24, 2007 - Introduced by Representatives M. Williams, Gronemus, Mursau, Musser, Albers, Ballweg, Gunderson, Hubler, Nerison and Townsend, cosponsored by Senators Wirch, Roessler and Schultz. Referred to Committee on Homeland Security and State Preparedness.

AB36,1,3 An Act to renumber 23.097 (1) (a) and 23.097 (1) (b); and to create 23.097 (1r) of the statutes; relating to: grants for catastrophic damage caused to urban forests.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to administer a program under which counties, cities, villages, towns, and nonprofit organizations receive grants of up to 50 percent of the cost for certain projects relating to tree management such as development of ordinances and tree inventories.

Under this bill, in addition to the grants under existing law, DNR may award grants to any of these entities, plus Indian tribes, for the costs of saving, removing, or replacing trees damaged in a catastrophic storm event in an urban area for which the governor has declared a state of emergency. This type of grant does not require that the recipient contribute to the costs of saving, removing, or replacing the trees.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB36, s. 1 Section 1. 23.097 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 23.097 (1).

AB36, s. 2 Section 2. 23.097 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 23.097 (1g).

AB36, s. 3 Section 3. 23.097 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB36,2,13 23.097 (1r) In addition to the grants awarded under sub. (1g), the department may award grants to counties, cities, village, towns, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized Indian tribes or bands that apply for the grants for the costs of removing, saving, and replacing trees that have been damaged by catastrophic storm events in urban areas. To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, the damage must have occurred in an area for which the governor has designated a state of emergency due to a catastrophic storm event. The department shall notify each applicant for a grant under this subsection as to whether the application for the grant will be approved or denied within 60 days after the date the application is submitted to the department. A recipient of a grant awarded under this subsection is exempt from having to pay any percentage of the costs in order to receive the grant.

AB36,2,14 (End)