reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NE Code § 2-1508 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1508 - Commission; rank and score applications for funding; criteria.

2-1508.  Commission; rank and score applications for funding; criteria.The commission shall rank and score applications for funding based on criteria that demonstrate the extent to which a program, project, or activity:(1) Remediates or mitigates threats to drinking water;(2) Meets the goals and objectives of an approved integrated management plan or ground water management plan;(3) Contributes to water sustainability goals by increasing aquifer recharge, reducing aquifer depletion, or increasing streamflow;(4) Contributes to multiple water supply management goals, including, but not limited to, flood control, agricultural use, municipal and industrial uses, recreational benefits, wildlife habitat, conservation of water resources, and preservation of water resources;(5) Maximizes the beneficial use of Nebraska's water resources for the benefit of the state's residents;(6) Is cost-effective;(7) Helps the state meet its obligations under interstate compacts, decrees, or other state contracts or agreements or federal law;(8) Reduces threats to property damage or protects critical infrastructure that consists of the physical assets, systems, and networks vital to the state or the United States such that their incapacitation would have a debilitating effect on public security or public health and safety;(9) Improves water quality;(10) Has utilized all available funding resources of the local jurisdiction to support the program, project, or activity;(11) Has a local jurisdiction with plans in place that support sustainable water use;(12) Addresses a statewide problem or issue;(13) Contributes to the state's ability to leverage state dollars with local or federal government partners or other partners to maximize the use of its resources;(14) Contributes to watershed health and function; and(15) Uses objectives described in the annual report and plan of work for the state water planning and review process issued by the department.Source Laws 2014, LB1098, § 5.
NE Code § 2-1509 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1509 - Application; form; contents; director; duties; state participation; request.

2-1509.  Application; form; contents; director; duties; state participation; request.(1) Applicants for funds may file an application with the department for a grant or loan from the Water Sustainability Fund. Applications for grants to the department itself shall be filed by the department. Each application shall be filed in such manner and form and be accompanied by such information as may be prescribed by the director and the commission.(2) Any such application shall:(a) Describe the nature and purpose of the proposed program, project, or activity;(b) Set forth or be accompanied by a plan for development of the proposed program, project, or activity, together with engineering, economic, and financial feasibility data and information, and such estimated costs of construction or implementation as may be required by the director and the commission;(c) State whether money other than that for which the application is made will be used to help in meeting program, project, or activity costs and whether such money is available or has been sought for this purpose;(d) When appropriate, state that the applicant holds or can acquire title to all lands or has the necessary easements and rights-of-way for the program, project, or activity and related lands and has or may acquire all water rights necessary for the proposed program, project, or activity;(e) Show that the applicant possesses all necessary authority to undertake or participate in the proposed program, project, or activity; and(f) Demonstrate the probable environmental and ecological consequences that may result from such proposed program, project, or activity.(3) Upon receipt of an application, the director shall evaluate and investigate all aspects of the proposed program, project, or activity and the proposed schedule for development and completion of such program, project, or activity, determine eligibility for funding, and make appropriate recommendations to the commission pursuant to sections 2-1506 to 2-1513. As a part of his or her investigation, the director shall consider whether the plan for development of the program, project, or activity is satisfactory. If the director determines that the plan is unsatisfactory or that the application does not contain adequate information upon which to make determinations, the director shall return the application to the applicant and may make such recommendations to the applicant as are considered necessary to make the plan or the application satisfactory.(4) Requests for utilization of the Water Sustainability Fund for state participation in any water and related land-water resources projects shall also be filed with the department for the director's evaluation, investigation, and recommendations. Such requests shall be filed in the manner and form and be accompanied by such information as shall be prescribed by the department and the commission.Source Laws 2014, LB1098, § 6.
NE Code § 2-1510 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1510 - Program, project, or activity; funding request; director; powers; findings; conflict of interest.

2-1510.  Program, project, or activity; funding request; director; powers; findings; conflict of interest.(1) Each program, project, or activity for which funding is requested, whether such request has as its origin an application or the action of the department itself, shall be reviewed as provided in sections 2-1506 to 2-1513 by the director prior to the approval of any allocation for such program, project, or activity by the commission.(2) The director may recommend approval of and the commission may approve grants or loans, including the appropriate repayment period and the rate of interest, for program, project, or activity costs or acquisition of interests in programs, projects, or activities if after investigation and evaluation the director finds that:(a) The plan does not conflict with any existing Nebraska state land plan;(b) The proposed program, project, or activity is economically and financially feasible based upon standards adopted by the commission pursuant to sections 2-1506 to 2-1513;(c) The plan for development of the proposed program, project, or activity is satisfactory;(d) The plan of development minimizes any adverse impacts on the natural environment;(e) The applicant is qualified, responsible, and legally capable of carrying out the program, project, or activity;(f) In the case of a loan, the borrower has demonstrated the ability to repay the loan and there is assurance of adequate operation, maintenance, and replacement during the repayment life of the program, project, or activity;(g) The plan considers other plans and programs of the state and resources development plans of the political subdivisions of the state; and(h) The money required from the Water Sustainability Fund is available.(3) The director and staff of the department shall carry out their powers and duties under sections 2-1506 to 2-1513 independently of and without prejudice to their powers and duties under other provisions of law.(4) No member of the commission shall be eligible to participate in the action of the commission concerning an application for funding to any entity in which such commission member has any interest. The director may be delegated additional responsibilities consistent with the purposes of sections 2-1506 to 2-1513. It shall be the sole responsibility of the commission to determine the priority in which funds are allocated for eligible programs, projects, or activities under section 2-1508.Source Laws 2014, LB1098, § 7.
NE Code § 2-1512 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1512 - Department; powers; Water Sustainability Fund; use.

2-1512.  Department; powers; Water Sustainability Fund; use.In order to develop Nebraska's water resources, the department, using the process provided for in subsection (4) of section 2-1509, and with the approval of the commission, may acquire interests in water and related land resources projects in the name of the state utilizing the Water Sustainability Fund. Such use of the fund shall be made when the public benefits obtained from the projects or a part thereof are statewide in nature and when associated costs are determined to be more appropriately financed by other than a local organization. Such use of the fund may be made upon the determination by the department and the commission that such acquisition is appropriate under sections 2-1506 to 2-1513. The department, with the approval of the commission, may also acquire interests in water resource projects in the name of the state to meet future demands for usable water. Such water resource projects may include, but not be limited to, the construction of dams and reservoirs to provide surplus water storage capacity for municipal and industrial water demands and for other projects to assure an adequate quantity of usable water. In furtherance of these goals, the department may contract with the federal government or any of its agencies or departments for the inclusion of additional water supply storage space behind existing or proposed structures.Source Laws 2014, LB1098, § 9.
NE Code § 2-1513 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1513 - Water Sustainability Fund; legislative analysis.

2-1513.  Water Sustainability Fund; legislative analysis.The Appropriations Committee of the Legislature shall, beginning with the FY2023-25 biennial budget review process, conduct a biennial analysis of the financial status of the Water Sustainability Fund, including a review of the committed and uncommitted balance of the fund and the financial impact of pending programs, projects, or activities. The committee shall base its recommendation for transfers to the Water Sustainability Fund upon information provided in the review process.Source  Laws 2014, LB1098, § 10;  Laws 2015, LB661, § 22.
NE Code § 2-1547 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1547 - Transferred to section 61-210.

2-1547.  Transferred to section 61-210.
NE Code § 2-1568 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1568 - Department; data bank; establish; maintain; administer; available to other agencies.

2-1568.  Department; data bank; establish; maintain; administer; available to other agencies.The department shall maintain and administer a data bank in the field of soil and water resources in the State of Nebraska. The collection of basic data and necessary interpretations of these data in the area of soil and water resources by agencies, departments, and political subdivisions of the State of Nebraska shall not be affected by this section. Such data and necessary interpretations of them shall be made available to the department for inclusion in the data bank when published or earlier if deemed by the originator to be suitable for inclusion. The source of data shall be identified in the data bank and when appropriate shall be associated with subsequent publication or other use. Processing and interpretation of the basic data shall be carried out by the department, except that this section does not preclude the independent processing and interpretation of such data by the collecting agency or other agencies. The resources of the data bank shall be made available to all interested agencies and persons.Source   Laws 1969, c. 382, § 1, p. 1348;  Laws 2000, LB 900, § 24;  Laws 2005, LB 342, § 1.
NE Code § 2-1569 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1569 - Basic data, defined.

2-1569.  Basic data, defined.For purposes of section 2-1568, basic data means recorded observations, calculations, or other information concerning: (1) Climatological, meteorological, hydrologic, hydraulic, topographic, and geologic conditions and phenomena, including soils and land use, as these relate to or affect surface and ground water resources, developed water supplies, water demands, and hydraulic structures; (2) occurrence, quantity, and quality of surface water resources, including variations with time, both short term and long range; (3) occurrence, quantity, and quality of ground water resources, including variations with time, natural and artificial recharge, natural and artificial disposal, and information as to the hydraulic characteristics of underground aquifers and reservoirs; (4) sediment production, transport, and disposition; (5) biologic data for streams, lakes, and reservoirs; (6) water rights; (7) occurrence, types, locations, and amounts of consumptive and nonconsumptive uses and demands for water, including diversions and extractions therefor, and variations over time; (8) occurrence, quantity, and quality of waste discharges and return flows, and variations thereof over time; (9) locations, characteristics, and operational criteria of works constructed to store, replenish, regulate, divert, extract, transport, distribute, protect, and improve surface and ground water resources; (10) project and facility operation data; (11) demographic data; and (12) economic and fiscal information.Source   Laws 1969, c. 382, § 2, p. 1349;  Laws 2005, LB 342, § 2.
NE Code § 2-1575 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1575 - Act, how cited.

2-1575.  Act, how cited.Sections 2-1575 to 2-1585 shall be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Act.Source   Laws 1977, LB 450, § 1;   Laws 1983, LB 236, § 1;  Laws 2000, LB 900, § 26;  Laws 2002, LB 1003, § 8;  Laws 2003, LB 619, § 1.
NE Code § 2-1576 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1576 - Legislative intent.

2-1576.  Legislative intent.The Legislature recognizes and hereby declares that it is the public policy of this state to properly conserve, protect, and utilize the water and related land resources of the state, to better utilize surface waters and available precipitation, to encourage ground water recharge to protect the state's dwindling ground water supply, to protect the quality of surface water and ground water resources, and to reduce soil erosion and sediment damages. The Legislature further declares that it is in the public interest of this state to financially assist in encouraging water and related land resource conservation and protection measures on privately owned land and that this will produce long-term benefits for the general public.Source   Laws 1977, LB 450, § 2;   Laws 1983, LB 236, § 2;   Laws 1986, LB 474, § 14;   Laws 1993, LB 247, § 1;  Laws 2002, LB 1003, § 9.
NE Code § 2-1577 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1577 - Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund; created; investment.

2-1577.  Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund; created; investment.(1) There is hereby created the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund to be administered by the department. The State Treasurer shall credit to the fund such money as is (a) appropriated to the fund by the Legislature, (b) paid to the state as fees, deposits, payments, and repayments relating to the fund, both principal and interest, and (c) donated as gifts, bequests, or other contributions to such fund from public or private entities. Funds made available by any agency of the United States may also be credited to such fund if so directed by such agency.(2) The money in the fund shall not be subject to any fiscal-year limitation or lapse provision of unexpended balance at the end of any such fiscal year or biennium. Transfers may be made from the fund to the General Fund at the direction of the Legislature.(3) Any money in the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.Source   Laws 1977, LB 450, § 3;   Laws 1983, LB 236, § 3;   Laws 1986, LB 258, § 3;   Laws 1995, LB 7, § 7;  Laws 2000, LB 900, § 27;  Laws 2009, First Spec. Sess., LB3, § 3. Cross References   Nebraska Capital Expansion Act, see section 72-1269.  Nebraska State Funds Investment Act, see section 72-1260.
NE Code § 2-1578 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1578 - Commission; rules and regulations.

2-1578.  Commission; rules and regulations.The commission shall adopt and promulgate appropriate rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund.Source   Laws 1977, LB 450, § 4;   Laws 1983, LB 236, § 4;  Laws 2000, LB 900, § 28.
NE Code § 2-1579 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1579 - Fund; grants; conditions; acceptance, how construed.

2-1579.  Fund; grants; conditions; acceptance, how construed.(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, expenditures may be made from the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund as grants to individual landowners of not to exceed seventy-five percent of the actual cost of eligible projects and practices for soil and water conservation or water quality protection, with priority given to those projects and practices providing the greatest number of public benefits.(2) The department shall reserve at least two percent of the funds credited to the fund for grants to landowners ordered by a natural resources district pursuant to the Erosion and Sediment Control Act to install permanent soil and water conservation practices. Such funds shall be made available for ninety percent of the actual cost of the required practices and shall be granted on a first-come, first-served basis until exhausted. Applications not served shall receive priority in ensuing fiscal years.(3) The commission shall determine which specific projects and practices are eligible for the funding assistance authorized by this section and shall adopt, by reference or otherwise, appropriate standards and specifications for carrying out such projects and practices. A natural resources district assisting the department in the administration of the program may, with commission approval, further limit the types of projects and practices eligible for funding assistance in that district.(4) As a condition for receiving any cost-share funds pursuant to this section, the landowner shall be required to enter into an agreement that if a conservation practice is terminated or a project is removed, altered, or modified so as to lessen its effectiveness, without prior approval of the department or its delegated agent, for a period of ten years after the date of receiving payment, the landowner shall refund to the fund any public funds used for the practice or project. When deemed necessary by the department or its delegated agent, the landowner may as a further condition for receiving such funds be required to grant a right of access for the operation and maintenance of any eligible project constructed with such assistance. Acceptance of money from the fund shall not in any other manner be construed as affecting land ownership rights unless the landowner voluntarily surrenders such rights.(5) To the extent feasible, the department and the commission shall administer the fund so that federal funds available within the state for the same general purposes are supplemented and not replaced with state funds.Source   Laws 1977, LB 450, § 5;   Laws 1978, LB 707, § 1;   Laws 1979, LB 326, § 1;   Laws 1980, LB 687, § 1;   Laws 1983, LB 236, § 5;   Laws 1986, LB 474, § 15;   Laws 1990, LB 906, § 1;   Laws 1993, LB 247, § 2;  Laws 2000, LB 900, § 29;  Laws 2002, LB 1003, § 11;  Laws 2011, LB2, § 1. Cross References  Erosion and Sediment Control Act, see section 2-4601.
NE Code § 2-1580 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1580 - Fund; erosion and sediment control payments; conditions.

2-1580.  Fund; erosion and sediment control payments; conditions.Payments may be made from the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund to owners of private land which is being converted to urban use for the purpose of controlling erosion and sediment loss from construction and development. As a condition for receiving any funds pursuant to this section, the landowner shall agree in writing that the erosion and sediment control practices will be installed prior to the land-disturbing activity, when possible, and that the practices will be adequately maintained or replaced at the landowner's expense until ninety-five percent of the site is permanently stabilized. Payments made pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with and conditional upon such terms as are established by the commission. Such terms may be different from those established by section 2-1579 for payments relating to other types of projects and practices.Source Laws 2002, LB 1003, § 10.
NE Code § 2-1581 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1581 - Fund; payments to reduce consumptive use of water; conditions.

2-1581.  Fund; payments to reduce consumptive use of water; conditions.Payments may be made from the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund to the owners of private land for the purpose of adopting or implementing practices or measures to reduce the consumptive use of water in river basins in which an interstate agreement, compact, or decree could require reduction in water usage.Payments made pursuant to this section may be made as part of research, cost-sharing, or other programs implemented by natural resources districts, irrigation districts, or other entities to develop incentive-based practices or measures to reduce the consumptive use of water.Payments made pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with terms and conditions established by the commission. The commission may establish terms and conditions for receipt of payments under this section which are different than those established for receipt of payments pursuant to section 2-1579.Source Laws 2003, LB 619, § 2.
NE Code § 2-1583 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1583 - Fund; land diversion payments; authorized.

2-1583.  Fund; land diversion payments; authorized.Expenditures may be made from the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund to individual landowners as land diversion payments for the purpose of encouraging alternate cropping patterns which, when implemented, will assure a longer conservation practice construction period. No such payments shall be made until the intended projects or practices have been completed.Source  Laws 1983, LB 236, § 6.
NE Code § 2-1584 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 2 - Agriculture|2-1584 - Department; assistance from local, state, or federal agencies.

2-1584.  Department; assistance from local, state, or federal agencies.The department may request and utilize assistance in the administration of the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund from natural resources districts, from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, and from any other appropriate local, state, or federal agencies. Such assistance may include accepting and approving applications for funds and designing, laying out, and certifying the proper completion of projects and practices.Source   Laws 1983, LB 236, § 7;   Laws 1993, LB 247, § 3;  Laws 1999, LB 403, § 3;  Laws 2000, LB 900, § 30.