AB598: Bill Text

LRB-4045/1

RNK:jld

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly BILL 598

December 10, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Swearingen, Krug, Ballweg and Tittl, cosponsored by Senators Tiffany and Olsen. Referred to Committee on Environment and Forestry.

AB598,1,4 An Act to amend 20.370 (6) (as), 20.370 (6) (av), 281.68 (title), 281.68 (1t) (title), 281.68 (1t) (a), 281.68 (1t) (c), 281.68 (1t) (d), 281.68 (2) (b) and 281.68 (3) (bg) of the statutes; relating to: lake monitoring and protection grants and contracts and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill expands the purposes for which the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may pay costs under contracts with public groups or persons who participate in a statewide lake monitoring network. In addition to the costs that DNR is allowed to pay under these contracts under current law, the bill allows DNR to pay the costs of lake surveys and watercraft inspection and the costs of producing and distributing lake survey results and reports.

This bill also allows DNR to use a portion of the funding currently appropriated to DNR only for river protection grants to pay the costs incurred for activities conducted under lake monitoring contracts.

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:

AB598,1 Section 1. 20.370 (6) (as) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB598,2,4 20.370 (6) (as) Environmental aids — invasive aquatic species and lake monitoring and protection. Biennially, from the conservation fund, the amounts in the schedule for grants under s. 23.22 (2) (c) to control invasive species that are aquatic species and for lake monitoring and protection contracts under s. 281.68 (1t).

AB598,2 Section 2. 20.370 (6) (av) of the statutes, as affected by 2105 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

AB598,2,10 20.370 (6) (av) Environmental aids — river protection; lake monitoring and protection contracts; conservation fund. Biennially, from the conservation fund, the amounts in the schedule for river protection grants and contracts under s. 281.70 and for lake monitoring and protection contracts under s. 281.68 (1t).

AB598,3 Section 3. 281.68 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB598,2,13 281.68 (title) Lake management planning grants and lake monitoring and protection contracts.

AB598,4 Section 4. 281.68 (1t) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB598,2,15 281.68 (1t) (title) Lake monitoring and protection contracts.

AB598,5 Section 5. 281.68 (1t) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB598,2,18 281.68 (1t) (a) Training, equipment, and supplies necessary for water quality sample collection, lake surveys, and watercraft inspection.

AB598,6 Section 6. 281.68 (1t) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB598,2,22 281.68 (1t) (c) Developing, maintaining, and managing a statewide database system for entering, tracking, evaluating, and reporting water quality and lake survey results.

AB598,7 Section 7. 281.68 (1t) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB598,2,25 281.68 (1t) (d) Producing and distributing water quality and lake survey results and reports.

AB598,8 Section 8. 281.68 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB598,3,4 281.68 (2) (b) The total amount of lake monitoring and protection contracts for each fiscal year may not exceed 10 25 percent of the total amount appropriated under s. 20.370 (6) (ar) and, (as), and (av).

AB598,9 Section 9. 281.68 (3) (bg) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB598,3,13 281.68 (3) (bg) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of the lake monitoring and protection contracts program, which shall specify the eligible activities and qualifications for participation in the statewide lake monitoring and protection network. Eligible activities shall include providing technical assistance to public or private entities that apply for, or have received, a grant under s. 23.22 (2) (c). Qualified participants shall include counties and public or private entities that manage aquatic invasive species under a management plan approved by the department.

AB598,3,14 (End)