AB806: Bill Text

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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 806

January 6, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Kurtz, Loudenbeck, Edming, Knodl, Krug, Novak and Spiros, cosponsored by Senators Testin, Marklein and Ballweg. Referred to Committee on Environment.

AB806,1,4 An Act to repeal 281.75 (9) (a); to renumber and amend 281.75 (9) (b); and to create 281.75 (2) (g) of the statutes; relating to: removing the livestock requirement under the well compensation grant program and requiring an annual report to the Joint Committee on Finance.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources administers a well compensation grant program, under which an individual owner or renter of a contaminated private well may apply for a grant to cover a portion of the costs to treat the water, reconstruct the well, construct a new well, connect to a public water supply, or fill and seal the well. A well that is contaminated only by nitrates, and not by any other substance, is eligible for a grant only if the well is a water supply for livestock, is used at least three months in each year, provides more than 100 gallons of water per day for consumption by livestock, and contains nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million.

This bill removes the requirement that a water supply contaminated only by nitrates be used for livestock and provide more than 100 gallons of water per day in order to be eligible for a grant under the program. Under the bill, a well that is contaminated only by nitrates is eligible for a grant if the well is used at least three months in each year and contains nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million.

The bill also requires DNR to report to the Joint Committee on Finance after the end of each fiscal year on the number of applicants under the well compensation program and the number and amount of grants provided during that fiscal year.

For further information see the state 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:

AB806,1 Section 1. 281.75 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB806,2,4 281.75 (2) (g) Submit a report to the joint committee on finance after the end of each fiscal year that includes the number of claims submitted and the number and amount of awards provided under this section during that fiscal year.

AB806,2 Section 2. 281.75 (9) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB806,3 Section 3. 281.75 (9) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 281.75 (9) and amended to read:

AB806,2,13 281.75 (9) Notwithstanding the requirement of contamination under sub. (7), if a private water supply meets the criteria under par. (a) and the claim is based upon contamination by nitrates and not by any other substance, the department may make an award only if the private water supply is used at least 3 months each year and produces water containing nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million expressed as nitrate-nitrogen.

AB806,2,14 (End)