AB50,824,1716(d) The department shall consult with interested persons to establish grant 17priorities for each fiscal year. AB50,824,2018(3) Reports. At least annually, the department shall report to the legislature 19under s. 13.172 (2) and to the secretary on the needs and opportunities for farm to 20fork programs. AB50,824,2121(4) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section. AB50,158122Section 1581. 93.67 of the statutes is created to read: AB50,825,2
193.67 Sandhill crane damage reimbursement program. (1) In this 2section: AB50,825,63(a) “Eligible applicant” means a person that plants corn on land that is 4operated as part of a farm that produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenues 5during the taxable year preceding the year in which the person applies for 6reimbursement under this section. AB50,825,87(b) “Farm” means all land under common ownership that is primarily devoted 8to agricultural use. AB50,825,109(c) “Seed coating” means a nonlethal treatment registered for use on corn seed 10to discourage sandhill cranes from consuming the seed. AB50,825,1311(2) (a) The department shall administer a program to provide 12reimbursements to eligible applicants for the purchase of seed coating that is 13applied as a seed treatment. AB50,825,1614(b) A reimbursement under this section shall cover not more than 50 percent 15of the actual cost of the purchase of seed coating that is applied as a seed treatment 16and may not exceed $6,250 per eligible applicant per planting season. AB50,825,2117(c) From March 1 to June 15 of each year, eligible applicants may apply to the 18department for reimbursement for seed coating purchased no earlier than 19November 1 of the prior year. Eligible applicants shall provide to the department 20proof of purchase and an application on a form provided by the department to be 21eligible to receive a reimbursement under this section. AB50,825,2322(d) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall 23prioritize reimbursement payments under par. (c) to all of the following: AB50,826,2
11. Eligible applicants that received a federal depredation permit for sandhill 2crane in the previous year. AB50,826,532. Eligible applicants that received reimbursement under this section in any 4of the prior 3 years or that can provide documentation of purchase of seed coating in 5any of the prior 3 years. AB50,826,863. Eligible applicants planting corn on land vulnerable to sandhill crane 7depredation as determined by the department in consultation with the department 8of natural resources and applicable conservation organizations. AB50,826,149(e) After reimbursing all eligible applicants under par. (d), from the 10appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall make reimbursement 11payments to other eligible applicants that have experienced or are likely to 12experience seed or crop damage from sandhill cranes. The department shall make 13payments under this paragraph to eligible applicants in the order in which 14applications are received by the department. AB50,826,1715(f) The department shall make all reimbursement payments under pars. (d) 16and (e) no later than September 15 of the year in which applications are made 17under par. (c). AB50,826,1918(g) A farm is eligible to receive only one reimbursement payment per year 19under this section. AB50,827,220(3) The department shall compile an annual report detailing the number of 21reimbursements requested, the total dollar amount requested as reimbursement, 22the number of reimbursements issued, and the total dollar amount disbursed as 23reimbursement under this section. The department shall submit the report to the
1appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided in s. 213.172 (3) no later than December 31 each year. AB50,827,63(4) The department may promulgate rules to establish prioritization of 4payments under sub. (2) (d) and (e), including identifying applicable conservation 5organizations under sub. (2) (d) 3. and determining whether eligible applicants 6have experienced or are likely to experience seed or crop damage under sub. (2) (e). AB50,15827Section 1582. 93.73 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: AB50,827,14893.73 (2) (b) The department, after consultation with the council under sub. 9(13), shall solicit applications under sub. (3) at least annually. The department 10shall issue each solicitation in writing and shall publish a notice announcing the 11solicitation. In soliciting applications, the department may specify the total 12amount of funds available, application deadlines, application requirements and 13procedures, preliminary criteria for evaluating applications, and other relevant 14information. AB50,158315Section 1583. 93.74 of the statutes is created to read: AB50,827,181693.74 Planning grants for regional biodigesters. (1) Grant program. 17From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (u), the department shall provide 18planning grants for establishing regional biodigesters. AB50,827,2019(2) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of 20this section. AB50,158421Section 1584. 93.75 of the statutes is created to read: AB50,827,242293.75 Biodigester operator certification grants. (1) Grants. From the 23appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (da), the department shall award grants to 24individuals seeking biodigester operator certification. AB50,828,3
1(2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules establishing the 2application process and grant-awarding criteria for the biodigester operator 3certification grants. AB50,15854Section 1585. 94.55 (2t) of the statutes is repealed.