AB 123

2017 Wisconsin Act 59

, the 2017 biennial budget act, repealed, effective June

30, 2021, a program the Department of Safety and Professional Services administers

to provide grants to persons and businesses that are served by failing private on-site

wastewater treatment systems (POWTS), which are commonly known as septic

tanks. This bill delays the elimination of the POWTS grant program to June 30,

2023.

The bill requires DSPS to prepare literature that describes the eligibility for

receiving a POWTS grant for a residence. Under the bill, DSPS supplies the

literature to counties, and counties must distribute the literature to recipients of

public benefits.

The bill also requires DSPS to fund a study that analyzes and makes

recommendations on practices that mitigate the risk of contaminating ground and

surface waters with septage. The Department of Soil and Waste Resources of the

College of Natural Resources of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point must

conduct the study and submit a report to the legislature by December 31, 2022.