AB932: Bill Text

LRB-3255/2

MGG:jld:pg

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 932

March 11, 2008 - Introduced by Representative Molepske. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB932,1,3 An Act to amend 23.22 (2) (c); and to create 23.0917 (4) (b) 5., 23.22 (1) (cg) and 23.22 (1) (cr) of the statutes; relating to: stewardship funding for grants to control invasive species.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers a financial assistance program under which it awards cost-sharing grants to public and private entities for projects to control invasive species that cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Under current administrative rules, these entities include lake districts, certain lake associations, and nonprofit conservation organizations.

Under current law, the state may incur public debt by issuing bonds for certain conservation activities under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program, which DNR administers. The state is currently authorized to bond under two of the program's subprograms: the land acquisition subprogram and the property development and local assistance subprogram. Bonding under the property development and local assistance subprogram may generally be used only for nature-based outdoor recreation. Under this bill, grants to nonprofit conservation organizations and lake districts to control invasive species for nature-based outdoor recreation purposes may be made from the property development and local assistance subprogram.

For further information see the state 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:

AB932, s. 1 Section 1. 23.0917 (4) (b) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

AB932,2,3 23.0917 (4) (b) 5. Invasive species grants under s. 23.22 (2) (c) to nonprofit conservation organizations, lake districts, and qualified lake associations.

AB932, s. 2 Section 2. 23.22 (1) (cg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB932,2,8 23.22 (1) (cg) "Lake district" means a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, a lake sanitary district, as defined in s. 30.50 (4q), or any other local governmental unit, as defined in s. 66.0131 (1) (a), that is established for the purpose of lake management.

AB932, s. 3 Section 3. 23.22 (1) (cr) of the statutes is created to read:

AB932,2,11 23.22 (1) (cr) "Qualified lake association" means an association that meets the qualifications under s. 281.68 (3m) (a).

AB932, s. 4 Section 4. 23.22 (2) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

AB932,3,3 23.22 (2) (c) Under the program established under par. (a), the department shall promulgate rules to establish a procedure to award cost-sharing grants to public and private entities for up to 75 percent of the costs of projects to control invasive species. The rules promulgated under this paragraph shall establish criteria for determining eligible projects and eligible grant recipients. Eligible projects shall include education and inspection activities at boat landings. Eligible grant recipients shall include nonprofit conservation organizations, lake districts, and qualified lake associations. The rules shall allow cost-share contributions to be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services or any combination thereof. In promulgating these rules, the department shall consider the recommendations of the council under sub. (3) (c).

AB932,3,4 (End)