(a) The director may enter into agreements, on behalf of eligible landowners, pursuant to which the department will undertake the preparation of PTEIRs. The department may enter into agreements with the Department of General Services or third-party consultants to assist in the preparation of PTEIRs.

(b) The department may provide grant funds to eligible landowners in amounts not to exceed the direct costs to the eligible landowners of preparing PTEIRs pursuant to this article.

(c) The department shall pay the costs of preparing the PTEIRs, or provide grant funds to eligible landowners, from funds appropriated to the department from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, pursuant to § 39718 of the Health and Safety Code.

(d) All expenditures made by the department pursuant to this article shall be in a manner consistent with the criteria expressed in § 39712 of the Health and Safety Code and with the investment plan developed by the Department of Finance pursuant to § 39716 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 36, Sec. 11. (SB 862) Effective June 20, 2014.)