§ 79-9-201 — Outdoor recreation mitigation grant criteria -- Priorities -- Application -- Prohibition on awards.

(1) The division may, within available funding, award an outdoor recreation mitigation grant as described in this section.
(2) In the event the division receives grant applications in excess of funding available to make grants, the division shall:
(2)(a) prioritize applications for grant funding for visitor-related emergency costs over applications for grant funding for visitor-related safety costs;
(2)(b) within applications for grant funding to relieve visitor-related emergency costs, prioritize applications for grant funding to support search and rescue efforts or emergency medical services over applications for grant funding to support road repair; and
(2)(c) prioritize an application for grant funding from an eligible county with a smaller population over an application for grant funding from an eligible county with a larger population.
(3) After making the priority determinations described in Subsection (2), the division may prioritize available grant funding based on need, in terms of:
(3)(a) the amount of outdoor recreation or tourism taking place within the eligible county;
(3)(b) the existing capacity of an eligible county to manage search and rescue efforts or emergency medical services without additional financial assistance;
(3)(c) the existing capacity of an eligible county to engage in road repair and maintenance without additional financial assistance; and
(3)(d) the existing capacity of an eligible county to manage tourism-related safety costs without additional financial assistance.
(4) The division may, in the division's discretion and in accordance with this part and any rules made pursuant to Subsection 79-9-102(3), fulfill an eligible county's application for grant funding in whole or in part.
(5) In implementing a competitive grant-making program described in this section, the division shall:
(5)(a) create an application for eligible counties to apply for grant funding; and
(5)(b) require an eligible county applying for grant funding to:
(5)(b)(i) use the application created by the division;
(5)(b)(ii) include information the division requires in an application; and
(5)(b)(iii) apply by a deadline established by the division.
(6) If an eligible county intends to share some or all grant funding awarded to the eligible county under this section with a special district in the eligible county, the eligible county shall provide that information in the eligible county's application for grant funding.
(7) Beginning January 1, 2028, an eligible county may not receive grant funding described in this chapter if the state auditor notifies the division, as authorized in Section 17E-2-403, that the eligible county is not in compliance with Section 17-63-603.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 17, 2025 Special Session 1