Section 11-A. State aid to districts

(1) To aid districts in carrying out
  the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited  to,  providing
  technical  assistance  to  landowners,  the  state,  within  the  amount
  appropriated therefor, shall:
    (a) Reimburse each soil and water conservation district to the  extent
  of  fifty  percent  of the amount expended by the district for the items
  specified in this paragraph, up to thirty thousand dollars per  district
  in  any  fiscal  year. Reimbursement pursuant to this paragraph shall be
  limited  to  expenditures  for  the  employment  of  conservation  field
  technicians  or  district  managers,  and  the  purchase of supplies and
  equipment related to these positions, for the purpose of supervising  or
  providing  technical assistance for the establishment and implementation
  of soil and water conservation practices  in  accordance  with  programs
  undertaken  by  the district. At the end of each calendar year, verified
  and detailed claims for such reimbursement shall  be  submitted  to  the
  state  soil and water conservation committee in such form and manner and
  containing such information as the state  soil  and  water  conservation
  committee,  the  commissioner  of  agriculture and markets and the state
  comptroller may require. Notwithstanding any  other  provision  of  this
  chapter, the soil and water conservation district of New York city shall
  be  considered  the  equivalent  of  five  districts  when reimbursed in
  accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.
    (b) Within amounts available, provide  financial  assistance  to  each
  soil  and water conservation district in an amount of up to six thousand
  dollars, in addition to the reimbursement provided under  paragraph  (a)
  of  this  subdivision,  for  the purposes of carrying out projects which
  conserve, restore and enhance the  soil  and  water  resources  of  this
  state;  assist  in  the  implementation  of agricultural best management
  practices;  prevent  and  reduce   agricultural   and   non-agricultural
  nonpoint-source  water  pollution;  assist  in the control of floods and
  mitigate flood damage; protect and restore streams and wetlands; protect
  and restore wildlife and aquatic habitat;  assist  in  the  drainage  of
  agricultural  lands;  prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs; control
  stormwater  run-off,  including  from  construction  sites;  assist   in
  maintaining   the   navigability   of   rivers   and   harbors;   reduce
  agriculturally-generated  air   pollution;   assist   the   agricultural
  production  of  green energy; protect open space; collect and dispose of
  pesticides; manage public lands; and protect and manage rural and  urban
  forests. For purposes of this paragraph, the soil and water conservation
  of New York city shall be considered the equivalent of five districts.
    (c)  Within  amounts  available,  provide financial assistance to each
  soil and  water  conservation  district,  in  addition  to  the  amounts
  provided  under  paragraphs  (a)  and  (b)  of this subdivision, for the
  purposes of carrying out projects for the conservation of the  soil  and
  water resources of this state, and for the improvement of water quality,
  and  for  the  control  and  prevention  of  soil  erosion  and  for the
  prevention of floodwater and sediment damages, and  for  furthering  the
  conservation,  development,  utilization  and  disposal  of  water,  and
  thereby to  preserve  natural  resources,  control  and  abate  nonpoint
  sources  of  water pollution, assist in the control of floods, assist in
  the drainage and irrigation of agricultural lands, prevent impairment of
  dams and reservoirs, assist in maintaining the  navigability  of  rivers
  and  harbors,  preserve  wildlife,  protect the tax base, protect public
  lands, and protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of
  the people of this state. Any funds  made  available  pursuant  to  this
  paragraph  shall  be available for financial assistance for the purposes
  of carrying out such activities to  each  soil  and  water  conservation
  district  on a competitive basis pursuant to performance standards to be

  established by  the  soil  and  water  conservation  committee  and  the
  commissioner   of  the  department  of  agriculture  and  markets.  Such
  standards  shall  include,  but  not  be  limited  to,  the  extent  and
  sufficiency  of district board activity; district reporting and outreach
  activities; delivery of state natural  resource  conservation  programs;
  and  the  ability  of  the  district  to  use  such  funding to leverage
  additional funds from local, federal and private sources.
    (2) Reimbursement and funding pursuant to this section, when  approved
  by  the state soil and water conservation committee and the commissioner
  of agriculture and markets, shall be paid out of the state treasury from
  funds appropriated and made available for the purposes of  this  section
  upon audit and warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers certified by
  the  state soil and water conservation committee and the commissioner of
  agriculture and markets in the manner provided by law.
    (3) The commissioner of agriculture and markets and the state soil and
  water conservation committee are each empowered to promulgate such rules
  and regulations and to prescribe such forms as each shall deem necessary
  to effectuate the purposes of this section.