(a) There is established an aquatic invasive species management grant and prevention and education program that shall be administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Pursuant to such program, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may make a grant to any municipality for: (1) Up to seventy-five per cent of the cost of conducting an aquatic invasive species diagnostic feasibility study associated with the abatement of a population of an aquatic invasive species in an inland water body of this state; or (2) up to fifty per cent of the cost of conducting a project to restore an inland water body of the state through the control and management of a population of aquatic invasive species that exists in said inland water body as of July 1, 2014.

(b) In addition to making grants, as described in subsection (a) of this section, pursuant to such aquatic invasive species management grant and prevention and education program, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may educate persons who engage in boating in this state on measures to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in the inland water bodies of this state and conduct a rapid response to a population of aquatic invasive species in an inland water body of this state that is identified after July 1, 2014.

(c) Not less than thirty per cent of any funds available to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for such aquatic invasive species management grant and prevention and education program shall be used for the purpose of making grants in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this section. The remainder of any such funds shall be used for: (1) The prevention and education and rapid response efforts described in subsection (b) of this section, and (2) the administration of such program, provided not more than ten per cent of such funds shall be used for such administrative purposes.

(d) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the aquatic invasive species management grant and prevention and education program described in this section. Such regulations may include, but shall not be limited to, eligibility criteria and priorities for the award of any grant pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(P.A. 14-217, S. 248.)

History: P.A. 14-217 effective July 1, 2014.