Assembly Bill 780 proposes the repeal of the existing dry cleaner environmental response program and its associated fund and council, while establishing a new initiative called the Revitalize Wisconsin program, which will be administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This new program aims to provide financial aid, in the form of grants or direct services, to local governments, dry cleaners, and private parties for addressing hazardous substance discharges and environmental pollution on their properties. The bill outlines specific criteria for eligibility, stating that aid cannot be awarded to applicants who caused the pollution, except for dry cleaners who had previously applied for assistance under the now-repealed program.

The bill includes several amendments and new provisions, such as the creation of sections related to environmental aids and waste removal, and it specifies the types of activities eligible for funding, including hazardous substance removal and environmental assessments. Additionally, it establishes definitions for terms like "brownfield" and "innocent landowner" to clarify the scope of the program. The bill also makes various appropriations and adjustments to existing statutes to facilitate the implementation of the Revitalize Wisconsin program, ensuring that funds are allocated appropriately for environmental management and pollution abatement efforts.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 15.347(2), 15.347, 20.370(4)(eq), 20.370, 20.370(6)(eq), 20.370(9)(nq), 20.566(1)(r), 20.566, 25.17(1)(d), 25.17, 25.43(2s), 25.43, 25.46(2m), 25.46, 25.48, 77.9964(3), 77.9964, 292.65(14), 292.65