REGIONAL FACILITY PLANNING.

(a) The board may enter into contracts with political subdivisions to pay from the research and planning fund all or part of the cost of developing regional facility plans.

(b) A political subdivision that desires money from the research and planning fund for regional facility planning shall submit a written application to the board in the manner and form required by board rules.

(c) The application shall include:

(1) the name of the political subdivision;

(2) a citation to the laws under which the political subdivision was created and is operating including specific citation of all laws providing authority to plan, develop, and operate regional facilities;

(3) the amount requested from the board for regional facility planning; and

(4) any other information required by the board in its rules or specifically requested by the board.

(d) After notice and hearing, the board may award the applicant all or part of the requested funds that are considered necessary by the board for the political subdivision to carry out adequate regional facility planning.

(e) If the board grants an application under this section and awards funds for regional facility planning, the board shall enter into a contract with the political subdivision that includes:

(1) a detailed statement of the purpose for which the money is to be used;

(2) the total amount of money to be paid from the research and planning fund under the contract; and

(3) any other terms and conditions required by board rules or agreed to by the contracting parties.

(f) The board shall adopt rules establishing criteria of eligibility for regional facility planning money that considers:

(1) the relative need of the political subdivision for the money;

(2) the legal authority of the political subdivision to plan, develop, and operate regional facilities;

(3) the effect of regional facility planning by the political subdivision on overall regional facility planning, development, and operation in the state and within the area in which the political subdivision is located; and

(4) the degree to which the regional facility planning by the political subdivision is consistent with an approved regional water plan for the area in which the political subdivision is located.

(g) The board may require that regional facility plans developed under contracts entered into under this section be made available to the commission as provided by board rules.