SB70,,6266 (b) Except as provided in par. (e), costs allowable in determining grant funding under this section may not exceed the costs of rehabilitating or replacing a private on-site wastewater treatment system by the least costly methods, except that a holding tank may not be used as the measure of the least costly method for rehabilitating or replacing a private on-site wastewater treatment system other than a holding tank.

SB70,,6267 (c) Except as provided in pars. (d) and (e), the state grant share under this section is limited to $7,000 for each principal residence or small commercial establishment to be served by the private on-site wastewater treatment system or to the amount determined by the department based upon private on-site wastewater treatment system grant funding tables, whichever is less. The department shall prepare and publish private on-site wastewater treatment system grant funding tables which specify the maximum state share limitation for various components and costs involved in the rehabilitation or replacement of a private on-site wastewater treatment system based upon minimum size and other requirements specified in the state plumbing code promulgated under s. 145.02. The maximum state share limitations shall be designed to pay approximately 60 percent of the average allowable cost of private on-site wastewater treatment system rehabilitation or replacement based upon estimated or actual costs of that rehabilitation or replacement. The department shall revise the grant funding tables when it determines that 60 percent of current costs of private on-site wastewater treatment system rehabilitation or replacement exceed the amounts in the grant funding tables by more than 10 percent, except that the department may not revise the grant funding tables more often than once every 2 years.

SB70,,6268 (d) Except as provided in par. (e), if the income of a person who owns a principal residence that is served by a category 1 or 2 failing private on-site wastewater treatment system is greater than $32,000, the amount of the grant under this section is limited to the amount determined under par. (c) less 30 percent of the amount by which the person’s income exceeds $32,000.

SB70,,6269 (e) Costs allowable for experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems shall include the costs of installing and monitoring experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems installed under s. 145.02 (3) (b) and this section. The department shall promulgate rules that specify how the department will select, monitor, and allocate the state share for experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems that the department funds under this section.

SB70,,6270 (7) Application. (a) In order to be eligible for a grant under this section, a governmental unit shall make an application for replacement or rehabilitation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems of principal residences or small commercial establishments and shall submit an application for participation to the department. The application shall be in the form and include the information the department prescribes. In order to be eligible for funds available in a fiscal year, an application is required to be received by the department prior to February 1 of the previous fiscal year.

SB70,,6271 (b) An American Indian tribe or band may submit an application for participation for any Indian lands under its jurisdiction.

SB70,,6272 (8) Conditions; governmental units. As a condition for obtaining grant funding under this section, a governmental unit shall do all of the following:

SB70,,6273 (a) Adopt and administer the maintenance program established under s. 145.20 (5).

SB70,,6274 (b) Certify that grants will be used for private on-site wastewater treatment system replacement or rehabilitation for a principal residence or small commercial establishment owned by a person who meets the eligibility requirements under sub. (3), that the funds will be used as provided under sub. (5) and that allowable costs will not exceed the amount permitted under sub. (6).

SB70,,6275 (c) Certify that grants will be used for private on-site wastewater treatment systems which will be properly installed and maintained.

SB70,,6276 (d) Certify that grants provided to the governmental unit will be disbursed to eligible owners.

SB70,,6277 (e) Establish a process for regulation and inspection of private on-site wastewater treatment systems.

SB70,,6278 (f) Establish a system of user charges and cost recovery if the governmental unit considers this system to be appropriate. User charges and cost recovery may include the cost of the grant application fee and the cost of supervising installation and maintenance.

SB70,,6279 (g) Establish a system which provides for the distribution of grant funds received among eligible applicants based on the amount requested in the application as approved by the department. If the amount received by a county is insufficient to fully fund all grants, the county shall prorate grant funds on the same basis as sub. (12).

SB70,,6280 (9) Assistance. The department shall make its staff available to provide technical assistance to each governmental unit. The department shall prepare and distribute to each participating governmental unit a manual of procedures for the grant program under this section.

SB70,,6281 (10) Distribution of literature. The department shall prepare literature that describes the eligibility for receiving a grant under this section for a principal residence. The department shall supply the literature to counties, and counties shall distribute the literature to recipients of public benefits.

SB70,,6282 (11) Allocation of funds. (a) Determination of eligible applications. At the beginning of each fiscal year the department shall determine the state grant share for applications from eligible owners received by participating governmental units. The department may revise this determination if a governmental unit does not meet the conditions specified under sub. (8) or if it determines that individuals do not meet eligibility requirements under sub. (3).

SB70,,6283 (b) Allocation. The department shall allocate available funds for grants to each participating governmental unit according to the total amount of the state grant share for all eligible applications received by that governmental unit.

SB70,,6284 (c) Limitation; commercial establishments. The department may not allocate more than 10 percent of the funds available under this subsection each fiscal year for grants for small commercial establishments.

SB70,,6285 (d) Limitation; experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems. The department may not allocate more than 10 percent of the funds available under this subsection each fiscal year for grants for the installation and monitoring of experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems.

SB70,,6286 (12) Prorating. (a) Except as provided in par. (d), the department shall prorate available funds under this subsection if funds are not sufficient to fully fund all applications. A prorated payment shall be deemed full payment of the grant.

SB70,,6287 (b) Except as provided in par. (d), if funds are sufficient to fully fund all category 1 but not all category 2 failing private on-site wastewater treatment systems, the department shall fully fund all category 1 systems and prorate the funds for category 2 systems on a proportional basis.

SB70,,6288 (c) Except as provided in par. (d), if funds are not sufficient to fully fund all category 1 failing private on-site wastewater treatment systems, the department shall fund the category 1 systems on a proportional basis and deny the grant applications for all category 2 systems.

SB70,,6289 (d) The department is not required to prorate available funds for grants for the installation and monitoring of experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems.

SB70,,6290 (13) Determination of eligibility; disbursement of grants. (a) The department shall review applications for participation in the state program submitted under sub. (7). The department shall determine if a governmental unit submitting an application meets the conditions specified under sub. (8).

SB70,,6291 (b) The department shall promulgate rules which shall define payment mechanisms to be used to disburse grants to a governmental unit.

SB70,,6292 (14) Inspection. Agents of the department or the governmental unit may enter premises where private on-site wastewater treatment systems are located pursuant to a special inspection warrant as required under s. 66.0119 to collect samples, records, and information and to ascertain compliance with the rules and orders of the department or the governmental unit.

SB70,,6293 (15) Enforcement. (a) If the department has reason to believe that a violation of this section or any rule promulgated under this section has occurred, it may do any of the following:

SB70,,6294 1. Cause written notice to be served upon the alleged violator. The notice shall specify the alleged violation and contain the findings of fact on which the charge of violation is based and may include an order that necessary corrective action be taken within a reasonable time. This order shall become effective unless, no later than 30 days after the date the notice and order are served, the person named in the notice and order requests in writing a hearing before the department. Upon this request and after due notice, the department shall hold a hearing. Instead of an order, the department may require that the alleged violator appear before the department for a hearing at a time and place specified in the notice and answer the charges complained of.