Wyoming conservation corps.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL SENATE

FILE

NO.
0085

ENROLLED ACT NO. 62, SENATE

FIFTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2007 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to the University of Wyoming; establishing the Wyoming conservation corps at the University of Wyoming; establishing a matching grant program; providing bridge funding pending the program becoming self-sufficient; requiring reports; providing for an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.
W.S. 21
‑
17
‑
118 is created to read:

21
‑
17
‑
118.

Wyoming conservation corps; creation authorized; reports.

(a)

The University of Wyoming shall establish a Wyoming conservation corps (WCC) program patterned after similar conservation corps programs in Utah, Montana and Colorado under which students in those states have performed service on conservation projects in Wyoming. The WCC program shall begin in the summer of 2007. The WCC program shall enter into agreements with state and federal agencies and private industry under which Wyoming students shall perform conservation projects in Wyoming prior to the students performing any work under those agreements. The students who participate in the WCC program may be high school, community college or university students. The students shall receive stipends and education financial awards for their service, as well as the educational and practical benefits of working on valuable conservation projects. The WCC program shall be fully self-sustaining by the end of summer 2009.

(b)

The University of Wyoming shall report to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee and the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee on October 1, 2007, and October 1, 2008, regarding expenditures made under this act, progress made by the WCC program toward financial self-sufficiency and the educational and conservation related benefits of the program.

Section 2.

(a)

There is appropriated from the general fund to the University of Wyoming three hundred twelve thousand dollars ($312,000.00) to be used exclusively for the Wyoming conservation corps as follows:

(i)

Two hundred forty thousand dollars ($240,000.00) shall be used to match contract funds provided for WCC projects in Wyoming by state and federal agencies and private industry. Each dollar under this paragraph shall be matched by two dollars ($2.00) in funds from contractors;

(ii)

Seventy–two thousand dollars ($72,000.00) shall be used for the administrative costs of the WCC program, but not more than thirty-six thousand dollars ($36,000.00) shall be expended for such costs in any fiscal year. The appropriation under this paragraph shall be available for expenditure only to the extent equal matching funds are secured for the WCC program from other sources.

(b)

The appropriation under subsection (a) of this section shall be separate from the university's block grant, and shall not revert until June 30, 2010.

(c)

Any unexpended and unobligated funds from the appropriation under subsection (a) of this section shall revert to the general fund on June 30, 2010.

Section 3.

This act is immediately effective upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1