Award; eligibility; rules.

The department may pay an award of up to $10,000.00 to an individual who provides information resulting in the assessment of a civil fine by a court in an action brought by the attorney general pursuant to section 5530, or leading to the arrest and conviction of a person under section 5531. An officer or employee of the United States, state of Michigan, an authorized representative of the department as defined in section 5526(3), or any other state or local government who furnishes information described in this section in the performance of an official duty is ineligible for payment under this section. In addition, an employee of the department of natural resources, a designee of the department of natural resources, or a person employed by the department of attorney general is ineligible to receive an award under this section regardless of whether the reported information came to his or her attention while functioning in an official capacity or as a private citizen. A person may not receive an award under this section for a violation of this part made by that person alone or in conjunction with others. An award shall not be made under this section until rules are promulgated by the department prescribing the criteria for making awards.