Bill > H678

This bill establishes a dedicated Invasive Aquatic Plant Management Fund to protect the Commonwealth's lakes and ponds from harmful invasive aquatic plants. The fund will be financed by a portion of fees collected from boat registrations and a new ten-dollar fee for out-of-state motorboats entering Massachusetts lakes and ponds. The Department of Environmental Protection will use this fund to create and administer a grant program, providing money to eligible organizations, including lake associations, towns, non-profit corporations, municipalities, higher education institutions, and federal government entities, to help them develop and implement programs aimed at preventing and managing invasive aquatic plants. The department will also establish a management plan outlining criteria for grant eligibility, application procedures, project selection, and reporting requirements for grant recipients.