HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 391

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT FUND.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 6042, Title 7 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 6042. Civil and administrative penalties; Community Environmental Project Fund.

(f) The Department shall must submit quarterly annual reports on the progress of the expenditures and/or or projects conducted with the Community Environmental Project Fund to the Governor and members of the General Assembly the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives for distribution to all Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate for distribution to all Senators, and the Director and Librarian of the Division of Legislative Services . All of the expenditures made by or on behalf of the Fund, together with an explanation the process utilized for selecting and prioritizing Projects, shall be reported annually to the Joint Finance Committee in the Department’s budget presentation.

SYNOPSIS

This Act revises the reporting requirements for the Community Environmental Project Fund for the purpose of easing the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Controls’ (DNREC) administrative burden. The fund was created by the General Assembly in 2004. This fund is capitalized with civil and administrative penalty payments received by DNREC. The collected funds are then disbursed to organizations serving communities affected by environmental violations.

Projects provided by these organizations include eliminating, minimizing, or abating pollution, improving environmental conditions that impact human health, enhancing natural resources to improve habitats, and expanding recreational opportunities.