SF 2174 (LSB 5493SV (3) 83)

SENATE FILE 2174

BY  COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3061)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to beautification grants to be awarded from the solid waste account of the groundwater protection fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 455E.11, subsection 2, paragraph a, subparagraph (1), Code Supplement 2009, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph division:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH DIVISION.  (Oa)  (i)  Each fiscal year for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2014, not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars to the department for purposes of awarding a beautification grant each year to one organization that does all of the following:
   (A)  Assists communities and organizations in cleanup and beautification projects.
   (B)  Conducts research to assist in the understanding of reasons for littering and illegal dumping.
   (C)  Administers antilittering and beautification education programs.
   (D)  Increases public awareness of the costs of littering.
   (ii)  The grant recipient shall do all of the following:
   (A)  Expend not more than twenty-five percent of the moneys for a public education and awareness initiative designed to reduce litter and illegal dumping.
   (B)  Expend not more than twenty-five percent of the moneys for all of the following:
   (I)  An educational initiative designed to discourage littering and illegal dumping for persons attending school in kindergarten through grade twelve.
   (II)  A litter-free schools initiative.
   (III)  A neighborhood beautification initiative.
   (C)  Expend not more than twenty-five percent of the moneys for an illegal dumping surveillance program.
   (D)  Expend not more than twenty-five percent of the moneys for a community partnership program designed to support community beautification projects.
   (iii)  As a condition of the grant award each year, the department shall require the grant recipient to submit a written report to the department by the end of the fiscal year for which the grant is awarded. In addition to any other information required by the department, the report shall include information detailing the expenditure of all moneys received by the organization and the results achieved through the expenditure of the money.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to beautification grants.
   The bill, for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2014, annually allocates $250,000 from the solid waste account of the groundwater protection fund to the department of natural resources for purposes of a beautification grant to be awarded to one organization.
   The bill provides criteria for determining the grant recipient.
   The bill requires the grant recipient to use grant moneys for a public education and awareness initiative designed to reduce litter and illegal dumping, an educational initiative designed to discourage littering and illegal dumping for persons attending school in kindergarten through grade 12, a litter-free schools initiative, a neighborhood beautification initiative, an illegal dumping surveillance program, and a community partnership program designed to support community beautification projects.
   The bill includes a reporting requirement for grant recipients.