The bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by updating sections 3112a and 3115, and adding a new section 3119a. It requires individuals responsible for sewer systems to notify local health departments and county officials of untreated or partially treated sewage discharges within 24 hours before the discharge occurs. The notice must detail the volume, quality, reason for the discharge, and affected areas. Additionally, the bill mandates testing of impacted waters for E. coli and ensures compliance with national pollutant discharge elimination system permits. It also establishes civil penalties for failing to provide notice, with fines up to $500,000, and imposes stricter penalties for repeat offenders who knowingly violate discharge regulations.

Moreover, the bill introduces a discharge recovery fund, allowing the state treasurer to receive and manage funds from various sources, with interest credited back to the fund. It ensures that any unspent money at the end of the fiscal year does not lapse into the general fund and designates the department as the fund's administrator for auditing. The bill outlines the process for expending money from the fund, enabling the department to grant funds to counties affected by sewage discharges, while requiring transparency in the grant application process through published criteria on the department's website.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 324.3112, 324.3115