80-7-814. Administration and expenditure of funds. (1) The provisions of this section constitute the noxious weed management program.

(2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), money deposited in the noxious weed management trust fund may not be committed or expended until the principal reaches $10 million.

(b) In the case of a noxious weed emergency, as provided in 80-7-815, a vote of three-fourths of the members of each house of the legislature may appropriate principal from the trust fund.

(c) Interest or revenue generated by the trust fund, excluding unrealized gains and losses, must be deposited in the noxious weed management special revenue fund and may be expended for noxious weed management projects before the principal of the noxious weed management trust reaches $10 million with a majority vote of each house of the legislature.

(d) Any grant funds, regardless of the time at which the grant was awarded, that are not fully expended upon termination of the contract or an extension of the contract, not to exceed 1 year, must revert to the department. The department shall use any reverted funds for future grant awards, provided the noxious weed management trust fund principal exceeds $10 million as provided in subsection (2)(a).

(e) The department may not apply for or receive grant awards from the noxious weed management special revenue fund.

(3) The principal of the noxious weed management trust fund in excess of $10 million may be appropriated by a majority vote of each house of the legislature. Appropriations of the principal in excess of $10 million may be used only to fund the noxious weed management program.

(4) The department may expend funds under this section through grants or contracts to communities, weed management districts, or other entities that it considers appropriate for noxious weed management projects. A project is eligible to receive funds only if the county in which the project occurs has funded its own weed management program using one of the following methods, whichever is less:

(a) levying an amount of not less than 1.6 mills or an equivalent amount from another source; or

(b) appropriating an amount of not less than $100,000 from any source.

(5) The department may expend funds without the restrictions specified in subsection (4) for the following:

(a) employment of a new and innovative noxious weed management project or the development, implementation, or demonstration of any noxious weed management project that may be proposed, implemented, or established by local, state, or national organizations, whether public or private. The expenditures must be on a cost-share basis with the organizations.

(b) cost-share noxious weed management programs with local weed management districts;

(c) special grants to local weed management districts to eradicate or contain significant noxious weeds newly introduced into the county. These grants may be issued without matching funds from the district.

(d) costs incurred by the department for administering the noxious weed management program as follows:

(i) In fiscal year 2014, the funds used by the department for administering the program, including but not limited to personal services costs, operating costs, and other administrative and program costs attributable to the program, may not exceed 16% of the total amount expended through grants and contracts made under subsection (4). No additional administrative or other costs may be taken by the department on reverted funds used for future grant awards.

(ii) In fiscal year 2015 and in each succeeding fiscal year, the funds used by the department for administering the program, including but not limited to personal services costs, operating costs, and other administrative and program costs attributable to the program, may not exceed 12% of the total amount of grants and contracts awarded from the noxious weed management special revenue fund under subsection (4) in the previous fiscal year. No additional administrative or other costs may be taken by the department on reverted funds used for future grant awards.

(e) administrative expenses incurred by the noxious weed management advisory council;

(f) a project recommended by the noxious weed management advisory council, if the department determines that the project will significantly contribute to the management of noxious weeds within the state; and

(g) grants to the agricultural experiment station and the cooperative extension service for crop weed management research, evaluation, and education.

(6) The agricultural experiment station and cooperative extension service shall submit annual reports on current projects and future plans to the noxious weed management advisory council.

(7) In making expenditures under subsections (3) through (5), the department shall give preference to weed management districts and community groups.

(8) If the noxious weed management trust fund is terminated by constitutional amendment, the money in the fund must be divided between all counties according to rules adopted by the department for that purpose.