Section 25-16-312 - Rural housing and development asbestos and lead paint abatement pilot grant program - fund created - definition - rules - repeal(1) The rural housing and development asbestos and lead paint abatement pilot grant program, referred to in this section as the "pilot grant program", is established in the department. The pilot grant program may award grants, beginning July 1, 2025, to local governments in rural communities to offset costs associated with the abatement of asbestos and lead paint in: (b) Commercial buildings; and(c) Other development projects.(2) To be eligible for a grant from the pilot grant program, a local government must submit an application to the department. The application must:(a) For renovation or demolition sites, include an inspection report consistent with the rules adopted pursuant to section 25-7-503 detailing asbestos-containing materials in excess of trigger levels;(b) For renovation of lead-based paint abatement sites, include a description of eligibility that the facility meets the definition in section 25-7-1102 (2) or (7);(c) For both asbestos and lead-based paint abatement, renovation, or demolition, include documentation demonstrating that the applicant has acquired any necessary permits and regulatory approval from the air pollution control division; and(d) Include an assessment of the needs of the local government's rural communities specific to: (I) The health and environmental impacts of asbestos- and lead-paint-contaminated structures;(II) The presence or lack of certified asbestos abatement or lead paint abatement personnel or supervisors operating within, or traveling to, rural communities for abatement projects;(III) The cost of acquiring certified asbestos abatement or lead paint abatement personnel or supervisors within rural communities;(IV) The proximity to, and availability of, asbestos and lead paint disposal facilities; and(V) Community impacts on economic development and affordable housing.(3)(a) The rural housing and development asbestos and lead paint abatement fund, referred to in this section as the "fund", is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money generated from penalties and fines collected pursuant to sections 25-15-309 and 25-15-310, as described in section 25-15-311; penalties collected pursuant to section 25-7-511; and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund.(b) The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund.(c) The state treasurer shall credit any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year to the fund; except that, on June 30, 2027, the state treasurer shall credit any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund to the general fund.(d) Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the department may expend money to award grants as described in subsection (1) of this section.(4) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise, "rural community" has the meaning set forth in section 39-22-526 (1)(b)(II).(5) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.Added by 2024 Ch. 356,§ 1, eff. 8/7/2024.2024 Ch. 356, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).