Back to Wyoming

HB0069 • 2020

Wildlife conservation efforts-1.

AN ACT relating to wildlife conservation; providing for voluntary donations to support wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system; and providing for an effective date.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Transportation
Last action
2020-03-12
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not specify how much people can donate, leaving this detail open-ended.

Wildlife Conservation Donations

The bill allows people to make voluntary donations on hunting and fishing license applications and at travel centers to support wildlife conservation efforts related to transportation.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows hunters, anglers, and park visitors to donate money when applying for licenses or permits.
  • Requires the Department of Transportation to set up donation facilities at one or more travel centers.
  • Funds collected go into a special account used only for wildlife conservation projects linked to transportation systems.
  • Limits how much can be taken out as administrative costs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who buy hunting and fishing licenses or park permits
  • The Department of Transportation

Terms To Know

Wildlife conservation account
A special fund where money is kept to support wildlife projects related to transportation.
Travel centers
Buildings along highways that provide services like rest stops and information for travelers.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much people can donate.
  • It is unclear what happens if the travel center facilities are not set up by the effective date.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0069HS001

Standing Committee • House Transportation, Highways and Military Affair

Adopted

Plain English: This amendment adds language to the bill that allows the department to deduct administrative costs when handling donations for wildlife conservation efforts related to transportation.

  • Adds a provision allowing the department to retain an amount equal to its administrative costs incurred in managing donations under the new subsections on pages 2 and 4 of the bill.
  • The exact percentage or method for calculating administrative costs is not specified, which could leave some uncertainty about how much will be deducted.
  • It's unclear what specific activities these administrative costs cover in relation to handling donations.

Bill History

  1. 2020-03-12 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 61

  2. 2020-03-12 Governor

    Governor Signed HEA No. 0038

  3. 2020-03-09 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0038

  4. 2020-03-06 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0038

  5. 2020-03-06 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0038

  6. 2020-03-06 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 27-1-2-0-0

  7. 2020-03-05 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  8. 2020-03-04 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  9. 2020-03-03 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  10. 2020-03-03 Senate

    S08 - Transportation:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  11. 2020-02-26 Senate

    :Rerefer to S08 - Transportation

  12. 2020-02-26 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S06 - Travel

  13. 2020-02-25 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  14. 2020-02-24 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 44-13-3-0-0

  15. 2020-02-21 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  16. 2020-02-20 House

    H COW:Passed

  17. 2020-02-17 House

    H Placed on General File

  18. 2020-02-17 House

    H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0

  19. 2020-02-14 House

    :Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations

  20. 2020-02-14 House

    H08 - Transportation:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  21. 2020-02-10 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H08 - Transportation 55-4-1-0-0

  22. 2020-02-07 House

    H Received for Introduction

  23. 2020-01-24 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 20LSO-0036
Bill No.:

HB0069

Effective:

7/1/2020 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

20LSO-0036

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0038

Chapter No.:

61

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Wildlife conservation efforts-1.

Subject:

Donations to support wildlife conservation efforts.

Summary/Major Elements:

The act allows for voluntary donations to support wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system by requiring that an opportunity to donate be provided on application forms for hunting and fishing licenses, conservation stamps and state park permits. The act requires the Department of Transportation to establish donation facilities at one (1) or more travel centers and allows the department to enter into agreements with financial institutions or persons operating remote electronic terminals for the collection of donations.

The act provides that funds collected shall be deposited into the wildlife conservation account created by W.S.

31
‑
2
‑
231(b), which account is used to provide for wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system, including signage, wildlife corridors, wildlife crossings and game fences. The act requires the Game and Fish Department to deduct from amounts collected administrative costs incurred in complying with the act.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
20LSO-0036

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0069

ENROLLED ACT NO. 38,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2020 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to wildlife conservation; providing for voluntary donations to support wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 23
‑
2
‑
101 by creating a new subsection (p), 23
‑
2
‑
201 by creating a new subsection (h), 23
‑
2
‑
306(a)(intro) and by creating a new subsection (d), 24
‑
1
‑
131, 31
‑
2
‑
231(b) and 36
‑
4
‑
121 by creating a new subsection (t) are amended to read:

23
‑
2
‑
101.

Fees; restrictions; nonresident application fee; nonresident licenses; verification of residency required.

(p)

In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license or tag under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to support wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system. The department shall provide information on the application form that the applicant may pay the contribution under this subsection. Funds collected under this subsection shall be transmitted to the state treasurer to be credited to the wildlife conservation account created by W.S. 31
‑
2
‑
231(b). The department shall deduct and retain an amount equal to the administrative costs incurred in complying with this subsection.

23
‑
2
‑
201.

Fees; restrictions; verification of residency required.

(h)

In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to support wildlife conservation efforts
related to the transportation system. The department shall provide information on the application form specifying that the applicant may pay the contribution under this subsection. Funds collected under this subsection shall be transmitted to the state treasurer to be credited to the wildlife conservation account created by W.S.

31
‑
2
‑
231(b).

23
‑
2
‑
306.

Conservation stamp; exemptions.

(a)

Subject to subsections (b)
,

and
(c)
and (d)
of this section and the applicable fee under W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
701, each sportsman licensed under W.S. 23
‑
2
‑
101, 23
‑
2
‑
107 or 23
‑
2
‑
201 shall purchase a single conservation stamp for twelve dollars ($12.00) which shall be valid for the time period specified in commission rules not to exceed twelve (12) months. The stamp or an authorization signifying purchase of the stamp shall be in the possession of any person exercising rights under any fishing or hunting license issued pursuant to W.S. 23
‑
2
‑
101, 23
‑
2
‑
107 or 23
‑
2
‑
201. Holders of special limited fishing permits issued under W.S. 23
‑
2
‑
207 and holders of licenses only under W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
302(q), 23
‑
2
‑
101(j)(v) and (vi), 23
‑
2
‑
201(d)(vi), (vii) and (ix), 23
‑
2
‑
201(f) and 23
‑
2
‑
201(g) are exempt from the provisions of this section
when exercising hunting or fishing privileges provided under those specific licenses. Revenues collected from the sale of each stamp under this subsection shall be deposited as follows:

(d)

In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a conservation stamp or a lifetime conservation stamp under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to support wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system. The department shall provide information on the application form specifying that the applicant may pay the contribution under this subsection. Funds collected under this subsection shall be transmitted to the state treasurer to be credited to the wildlife conservation account created by W.S. 31
‑
2
‑
231(b). The department shall deduct and retain an amount equal to the administrative costs incurred in complying with this subsection.

24
‑
1
‑
131.

Travel centers.

(a)

The transportation commission and the director of the department of transportation shall ensure that all
buildings owned or controlled by the department of transportation and utilized as travel centers are directed and operated by one (1) or more agencies appointed by the transportation commission for the best interests of all Wyoming people. For purposes of this section an agency may be defined as a chamber of commerce, or any state or local governmental entity. If no agency is appointed, the commission shall direct and operate the travel centers.

(b)

The department of transportation, in consultation with the commission, shall establish facilities at one (1) or more travel centers to accept donations in support of wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system. Funds collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the wildlife conservation account created under W.S.

31
‑
2
‑
231(b). In carrying out the requirements of this subsection, the department may enter into agreements with financial institutions or persons operating remote electronic terminals for the collection of donations.

31
‑
2
‑
231.

Wildlife conservation license plates; wildlife conservation account.

(b)

The fees collected under subsection (a) of this section shall be payable to the department and shall be accounted for separately.
Except as otherwise provided by law, t
he fees collected
under subsection (a) of this section and funds collected under W.S. 23
‑
2
‑
101(p), 23
‑
2
‑
201(h), 23
‑
2
‑
306(d), 24
‑
1
‑
131(b) and 36
‑
4
‑
121(t)
shall be distributed to the wildlife conservation account within the state highway fund, which is hereby created. Funds in the wildlife conservation account shall only be used to provide for wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system, including signage, wildlife corridors, wildlife crossings and game fences.

36
‑
4
‑
121.

Permits to use state parks, recreation areas and historic sites.

(t)

The department shall include as part of the opportunity to purchase a permit that allows use of state parks, recreation areas, archeological sites and historic sites the option for a permittee to donate an additional amount in support of wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system. Funds collected under this
subsection shall be deposited into the wildlife conservation account created by W.S.

31
‑
2
‑
231(b).

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

1