LRB-2087/1
MGG:nwn:jf
2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
February 17, 2012 - Introduced by Representatives Molepske Jr, Mursau,
Spanbauer, Turner, Ringhand, Clark, Ballweg, Bernard Schaber, Pasch,
Krug
and Berceau, cosponsored by Senators Hansen and Holperin. Referred
to Committee on Natural Resources.
AB573,1,3 1An Act to amend 23.22 (2) (c); and to create 23.0917 (4) (b) 5., 23.22 (1) (cg),
223.22 (1) (cm) and 23.22 (1) (cr) of the statutes; relating to: stewardship
3funding 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. Moneys for these grants are appropriated from the
conservation fund.
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. This bill allows DNR to use stewardship bonding
for these cost-sharing grants to control invasive species for nature-based outdoor
recreation purposes.

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:
AB573, s. 1 1Section 1. 23.0917 (4) (b) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
AB573,2,32 23.0917 (4) (b) 5. Invasive species grants under s. 23.22 (2) (c) to nonprofit
3conservation organizations, lake districts, and qualified lake associations.
AB573, s. 2 4Section 2. 23.22 (1) (cg) of the statutes is created to read:
AB573,2,85 23.22 (1) (cg) "Lake district" means a public inland lake protection and
6rehabilitation district, a lake sanitary district, as defined in s. 30.50 (4q), or any other
7local governmental unit, as defined in s. 66.0131 (1) (a), that is established for the
8purpose of lake management.
AB573, s. 3 9Section 3. 23.22 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB573,2,1110 23.22 (1) (cm) "Nonprofit conservation organization" has the meaning given in
11s. 23.0955 (1).
AB573, s. 4 12Section 4. 23.22 (1) (cr) of the statutes is created to read:
AB573,2,1413 23.22 (1) (cr) "Qualified lake association" means an association that meets the
14qualifications under s. 281.68 (3m) (a).
AB573, s. 5 15Section 5. 23.22 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB573,3,516 23.22 (2) (c) Under the program established under par. (a), the department
17shall promulgate rules to establish a procedure to award cost-sharing grants to
18public and private entities for up to 75 percent of the costs of projects to control
19invasive species. The rules promulgated under this paragraph shall establish
20criteria for determining eligible projects and eligible grant recipients. Eligible
21projects shall include education and inspection activities at boat landings. Eligible

1grant recipients shall include nonprofit conservation organizations, lake districts,
2and qualified lake associations.
The rules shall allow cost-share contributions to be
3in the form of money or in-kind goods or services or any combination thereof. In
4promulgating these rules, the department shall consider the recommendations of the
5council under sub. (3) (c).
AB573,3,66 (End)
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