37-1309. Nonnative vegetation species eradication fund; department duties; grants; annual report

A. The nonnative vegetation species eradication fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations for specific nonnative vegetation invasive species eradication projects. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Arizona department of forestry and fire management for the purposes of this section and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. On notice from the state forester, the state treasurer shall invest and divest monies in the fund as provided in section 35-313, and monies earned from investment shall be credited to the fund.

B. The Arizona department of forestry and fire management shall:

1. Coordinate with the Arizona state land department on projects conducted on state trust land pursuant to this section.

2. Coordinate with the Arizona game and fish department on projects conducted pursuant to this section.

3. Monitor and oversee specific projects for which the legislature appropriates monies to the nonnative vegetation species eradication fund.

4. Provide grants to other state agencies, cities, towns, counties, Indian tribes and other political subdivisions of this state and to nonprofit organizations for nonnative vegetation invasive species eradication projects that will assist in preventing fire and flooding, conserving water, replacing nonnative vegetative species with native vegetative species and restoring habitat to wildlife. A grant recipient shall follow state and federal laws to preserve endangered species when implementing the nonnative vegetation invasive species eradication project.

5. Establish application procedures and qualification criteria for the grants. Grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be awarded in accordance with title 41, chapter 24.

C. On or before September 1 of each year, the Arizona department of forestry and fire management shall report to the joint legislative budget committee and the governor's office of strategic planning and budgeting the total expenditures from the previous year for grants for nonnative vegetation species eradication projects. The report shall indicate each project's expenditures, the benefits of each project to the treated land, the status of each project and the projected timeline for completion of each project.