§5–1003.

    (a)    (1)    Subject to available funding in the State budget and subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary may implement a program to use Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis to control or eliminate nuisance insects in the State.

        (2)    The program shall be implemented on:

            (i)    State–owned property;

            (ii)    Property owned by a local government with the consent of the local government; and

            (iii)    Private property with the consent of the property owner.

        (3)    To carry out the program, the Secretary may:

            (i)    Treat property with an aerial spraying or backpack spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis;

            (ii)    Conduct field studies to determine the need for, location, and time of spraying;

            (iii)    Schedule spraying when the conditions are optimal for ingestion by nuisance insects;

            (iv)    Notify appropriate persons of the date and location of an upcoming spraying; and

            (v)    Review the effectiveness of spraying.

    (b)    Notice provided under subsection (a)(3)(iv) of this section shall, at a minimum, be:

        (1)    Provided to:

            (i)    Local press outlets;

            (ii)    County and local governments that are in the area that will be affected by the spraying;

            (iii)    Emergency responders and associated agencies that service the area that will be affected by the spraying; and

            (iv)    The local riverkeeper for the area that will be affected by the spraying; and

        (2)    Posted on appropriate social media sites.

    (c)    (1)    The Secretary may carry out a project to use Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis to control or eliminate nuisance insects under this section if the county or municipality in which the nuisance insects are located agrees to pay 50% of the costs associated with the project.

        (2)    The Secretary shall remit any payment from a county or municipality received under this subsection to the Comptroller for deposit to the Nuisance Insects Fund, established under § 5–1004 of this subtitle.