SECTION 155:20-1-4. Administration of funds

(a)   Conservation Cost-Share Fund. The Conservation Cost-Share Fund shall be administered according to 27 O. S. Ann. § 3-3-115.

(b)   General.

(1)   The Commission will, upon recommendations from Commission staff, set aside not more than 10 percent of any legislative appropriation for administration of the Conservation Cost-Share Program. This money will be used to fund personnel and operating costs, including technical assistance costs, associated with administration of the Program at both the Commission and conservation district level. In addition, a reserve fund may be maintained to meet contingencies that may arise. The remainder of the appropriation will be allocated to two main program initiatives - the Priority Watershed Initiative and the Locally Led Conservation Initiative.

(2)   Any funds allocated to districts and not obligated during the allocation period for a given program year will be released by the district and made available for reallocation by the Commission. Additionally, any funds obligated during the allocation period but not disbursed within one year after the end of the allocation period shall be released to the Commission and made available for reallocation. The Commission will reallocate these funds and such funds will be identified as current program year funds.

(3)   During any allocation period, should any funds become deobligated within the district, for whatever reason, then these funds are available for re-obligation by the district board within the respective program initiatives.

(4)   Nothing in any contract or agreement executed between the district and participant shall be interpreted or construed to constitute a financial or general obligation of the state. No state revenue shall be used to guarantee or pay for any damages to property or injury to persons as a result of the provisions of any contracts or agreements.

(c)   Locally Led Conservation Initiative allocation. The Locally Led Conservation Initiative will receive funds from the Conservation Cost-Share Fund as allocated by the Commission.

(d)   Priority Watershed Initiative allocation. The Priority Watershed Initiative will receive funds from the Conservation Cost-Share Fund as allocated by the Commission. Funds will be allocated watershed by watershed by the Commission, based on recommendations prepared by Commission staff with input from the Nonpoint Source Working Group and other interested groups. This money will be available for cost-share conservation practices that address water quality, soil erosion, and animal waste issues in high priority watersheds.

(e)   Reserve fund. The Commission may administer a reserve fund to be set aside and used only to meet contingencies that occur in the districts or within the Commission. Money for this fund shall come from the Conservation Cost-Share Fund as determined by the Commission.

[Source: Added at 15 Ok Reg 4301, eff 8-12-98 (emergency); Added at 16 Ok Reg 1355, eff 6-1-99; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 797, eff 4-25-09]