I. There is hereby established a nonlapsing and continually appropriated mosquito control fund to assist cities, towns, and mosquito control districts by providing funding for the purpose of offsetting the cost of mosquito control activities including, but not limited to, the purchase and application of chemical pesticides. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance, when needed, to cities, towns, and mosquito control districts engaging in mosquito control and abatement activities in response to a declared threat to the public health.
II. In order to be eligible to receive funding, a city, town, or mosquito control district shall have in place a comprehensive mosquito control plan approved by the commissioner. This plan shall include at a minimum:
(a)A list of the pesticid
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I. There is hereby established a nonlapsing and continually appropriated mosquito control fund to assist cities, towns, and mosquito control districts by providing funding for the purpose of offsetting the cost of mosquito control activities including, but not limited to, the purchase and application of chemical pesticides. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance, when needed, to cities, towns, and mosquito control districts engaging in mosquito control and abatement activities in response to a declared threat to the public health.
II. In order to be eligible to receive funding, a city, town, or mosquito control district shall have in place a comprehensive mosquito control plan approved by the commissioner. This plan shall include at a minimum:
(a) A list of the pesticides (active ingredient) and methods by which these pesticides will be applied to ensure that the application is done in a safe and proper manner.
(b) Safeguards that will be taken to protect the health of the public, wildlife, and resources within the state including provisions for the measuring and monitoring of residual pesticides in the water and soil.
(c) A comprehensive public awareness campaign geared toward prevention and designed to educate the public about the health risks associated with mosquitoes.
(d) Appropriate abatement measures.
III. (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and with the concurrence of the governor, may determine that a threat to the public health exists that warrants expedited mosquito control and abatement activities within a city, town, or mosquito control district. Such determination shall be based on local factors which may include:
(1) Historical and current climatic conditions.
(2) Historical and current mosquito population indices.
(3) Historical and current mosquito, veterinary, and human arboviral disease surveillance.
(b) An expedited approval process shall be established for the implementation of mosquito control and abatement activities, including the application of pesticides. The commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food may authorize expedited mosquito control and abatement activities pursuant to this paragraph.
IV. A city, town, or mosquito control district shall be eligible to receive funds if the commissioner determines that:
(a) The city, town, or mosquito control district has a comprehensive mosquito control plan approved by the commissioner in accordance with paragraph II;
(b) The city, town, or mosquito control district has engaged or plans to engage in mosquito control and abatement activities pursuant to paragraph III;
(c) The commissioner, after consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has determined that mosquito control and abatement activities are appropriate to mitigate the public health threat; and
(d) A threat to public health has been determined in accordance with paragraph III.
IV-a. Following a determination of eligibility under paragraph IV, the city, town, or mosquito control district shall be eligible for funding for mosquito control and abatement activities occurring during the same calendar year prior to or after a determination of a public health threat under paragraph III.
V. A city, town, or mosquito control district's receipt of funds, as well as the amount of funding, shall be at the discretion of the commissioner. In exercising his or her discretion, the commissioner shall consider the following criteria:
(a) The nature and degree of the declared threat to the public health.
(b) The nature and degree of the city, town, or mosquito control district's mosquito control and abatement activities in response to the declared threat to the public health.
(c) The city, town, or mosquito control district shall show cause why funding assistance from the mosquito control fund is necessary.
(d) Funding from the mosquito control fund shall not exceed 25 percent of the cost of mosquito control and abatement activities pursuant to the declared threat to the public health.
(e) Funding is available.