The commission may expend weed and pest control funds through grants or contracts to weed and pest control boards, governmental agencies, or other entities it considers appropriate for weed and pest control projects for the following:
(1) Employment of a new and innovative weed and pest control project or the development, implementation, or demonstration of any weed and pest control project that may be proposed, implemented, or established by local, state, or national organizations, whether public or private. Such expenditures shall be on a cost-share basis with such organizations;(2) Weed and pest control cost-share programs with county weed and pest boards;(3) Special grants to county weed and pest control boards to eradicate or contain significant weeds or pests newly introduced into the county. These grants may be issued without matching funds from the board;(4) Assist county weed and pest boards in purchasing pesticides and application equipment and hiring labor necessary to protect against expansion of noxious weeds and declared pests;(5) Support multi-county weed and pest control and eradication efforts;(6) Promote landowner responsibility to control noxious weeds and pests in South Dakota;(7) Support educational and research efforts to find new and better ways of controlling noxious weeds and pests.A project is eligible to receive funds only if the county in which the project occurs has funded its own weed and pest program. The commission may also expend funds to pay for the costs of administering the weed and pest control fund not to exceed three percent of the allowable expenditure for each fiscal year and for administrative expenses incurred by the commission.
SL 1989, ch 345, § 7; SL 1996, ch 246, § 2.