23.0955 Assistance to nonprofit conservation organizations.

(1) In this section, “nonprofit conservation organization" means a nonprofit corporation, a charitable trust or other nonprofit association whose purposes include the acquisition of property for conservation purposes and that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the internal revenue code and is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the internal revenue code.

(2)

(a) The department shall provide one grant of $75,000 in fiscal year 1996-97 to a nonstock, nonprofit corporation that is described under section 501 (c) (3) or (4) of the internal revenue code and organized in this state if the corporation meets all of the following requirements:

1. The corporation is exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the internal revenue code.

2. The corporation provides support to nonprofit conservation organizations.

3. The corporation has a board of directors whose members represent, to the greatest extent practicable, all geographic areas of the state and that has a majority of members who are representatives of nonprofit conservation organizations.

4. The corporation contributes $25,000 in funds to be used with the grant under this subsection.

(am) Beginning in fiscal year 1997-98, the department may provide an annual grant to a nonstock, nonprofit corporation that meets all of the qualifications under par. (a).

(b) A corporation receiving a grant under this subsection shall do all of the following, but shall emphasize the activities described in subds. 1. and 2.:

1. Assist in the establishment of nonprofit conservation organizations.

2. Provide technical assistance to nonprofit conservation organizations, especially in the areas of management, receiving federal tax exemptions, conservation easements and real estate transactions.

2m. Assist nonprofit conservation organizations in acquiring property for conservation purposes and in managing property acquired for conservation purposes.

3. Conduct conferences on the topics specified in subd. 2.

4. Acquire a property for conservation purposes where no other nonprofit conservation organization exists that is willing to assist or capable of effectively assisting in the transfer of the property or that can adequately manage the property after it is acquired.

5. For each fiscal year, prepare a report detailing the activities for which a grant under this section was expended, describing any property acquired by the corporation and explaining how the acquisition of that property furthers the goal of conservation in the state. Copies of the report shall be submitted to the department and to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).

(3)

(a) During the period beginning on January 1, 2004, and ending on July 1, 2004, the department shall submit a comprehensive report describing the cost of, and accomplishments achieved by, activities funded with grants under this section, commencing with the grants provided in the 1999-2000 fiscal year. The report shall evaluate all of the following:

1. How grants under this section have furthered the goal of encouraging private resource conservation.

2. The extent to which grants under this section complement the resource conservation goals of the department.

(b) The report shall contain a recommendation to the legislature on whether the grant program under this section should be continued, eliminated or revised.

(c) The report shall be distributed to the speaker of the assembly and the president of the senate under s. 13.172 (3).

History: 1993 a. 343 ss. 17, 19; 1995 a. 459; 1999 a. 9.