KY HB651

Amends the Kentucky WWATERS Program eligibility requirements, increasing the threshold from meeting 1 criterion to meeting 3 or more criteria for a public water or wastewater system to qualify as an "eligible funding recipient"

Excludes projects that would expand a utility's service area from eligibility, limiting funding to improvements for existing infrastructure and service areas

Requires funding applicants to submit detailed budgets with explanations for administrative and miscellaneous expenses, and capital construction projects must include cost and timeline estimates prepared by a licensed professional engineer with signed attestation

Adds new eligibility scoring criteria including demonstration of stormwater inflow/groundwater infiltration problems, cost comparability to similar completed projects, and prior successful completion of earlier project phases under the program

Requires funding recipients to adopt best management practices established by the board covering regulatory compliance, debt service coverage ratios, rate reviews, asset management, water loss reduction, and emergency preparedness

Declares an emergency so the act takes effect immediately upon the Governor's approval