SB 771 - This act modifies provisions relating to solid waste management districts. The act requires that if a county applies to the Department of Natural Resources to be placed with another regional grouping of solid waste management districts, the county must be placed with a regional grouping adjacent to the county. Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources shall conduct a performance audit of grants to each solid waste management district at least once every 5 years. This act states that audits of no more than 10% of grants to each district shall occur as deemed necessary by the Department based upon district grantee performance. Currently, $200,000 from the Solid Waste Management Fund may be allocated to certain solid waste management districts. This act repeals this provision. Under current law, no more than 50% of revenue allocated to solid waste management districts shall be used for the implementation of a solid waste management plan and district operations. The act changes the amount to no more than 25% only for district operations. Current law states that at least 50% of the revenue shall be allocable to the districts. The act changes the amount to 75% for implementation of a solid waste management plan and grants or projects serving the districts. Additionally, the act requires such money to be allocated to districts on a quarterly basis from August 28, 2020, until August 27, 2025. Currently, certain solid waste management districts are minimally funded at $95,000 a year. This act changes the amount to $120,000 a year. The act repeals a provision stating that the Department and the Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority shall conduct sample audits of grants. Under current law, the Department has 30 days to review grant applications. The act changes this time to 10 days. Solid waste management districts then have an additional 30 days to respond to the Department's request for additional information to evaluate grant applications. The act changes the response time to 10 days. The Department then has 30 days to either approve or deny the grant application. The act changes this response time to 10 days. Finally, if a solid waste management district receives an unfavorable decision on a request submitted to the Department, the district may send such request to the Solid Waste Advisory Board. Such request may be appealed to the Administrative Hearing Commission upon at least 2/3 of the members of the Board representing solid waste management districts, excluding the members of the Board appointed by the Program Director of the Solid Waste Management Program, voting to approve such appeal at the Board's next regular meeting. This act is similar to HB 2529 (2020). JAMIE ANDREWS