Hunting and fishing access-reliable funding.

21LSO-0522

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0122

ENROLLED ACT NO. 46,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session

AN ACT relating to game and fish; increasing conservation stamp fees; establishing a new account within the game and fish fund; depositing fee increases as specified; authorizing expenditure of fee as specified; imposing game and fish commission reporting requirements on specified account expenditures; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 23
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1
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501 by creating a new subsection (h) and 23
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2
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306(a)(intro) and by creating a new subsection (e) are amended to read:

23
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1
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501.

Game and fish fund.

(h)

An account within the game and fish fund is created. The portion of the revenues collected as specified under W.S. 23
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2
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306(e) shall be deposited into the account. Revenues deposited in the account created under this subsection are continuously appropriated to the commission and all earnings on funds in the account shall remain in the account. The commission shall use revenues in the account only as specified in this subsection and subject to the following requirements:

(i)

Of the revenues collected, not less than eighty
‑
five percent (85%) shall be used by the commission to purchase access easements or other agreements to provide public access to private, federal and state lands that are difficult to access or inaccessible by the public for hunting and fishing purposes. The commission shall notify the appropriate boards of county commissioners in writing before purchasing any access easements or entering into any agreements under this paragraph and shall hold public hearings at the request of any board of county commissions;

(ii)

Of the revenues collected, not greater than fifteen percent (15%) shall be used to provide for wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system, including signage, wildlife corridors, wildlife crossings, fish passages and game fences;

(iii)

As part of the annual report required under subsection (e) of this section, the commission shall report to the legislature on all expenditures pursuant to this subsection during the preceding fiscal year.

23
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2
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306.

Conservation stamp; exemptions.

(a)

Subject to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section and the applicable fee under W.S. 23
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1
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701, each sportsman licensed under W.S. 23
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2
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101, 23
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2
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107 or 23
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2
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201 shall purchase a single conservation stamp for
twelve dollars ($12.00)
twenty
‑
one dollars ($21.00)
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
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2
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101, 23
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2
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107 or 23
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2
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201. Holders of special limited fishing permits issued under W.S. 23
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2
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207 and holders of licenses only under W.S. 23
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1
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302(q), 23
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2
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101(j)(v) and (vi), 23
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2
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201(d)(vi), (vii) and (ix), 23
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2
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201(f) and 23
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2
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201(g) are exempt from the provisions of this section when exercising hunting or fishing privileges provided under those specific licenses.
Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, r
evenues collected from the sale of each stamp under this subsection shall be deposited as follows:

(e)

Of the twenty-one dollars ($21.00) collected under subsection (a) of this section, nine dollars ($9.00) collected from the sale of each stamp shall be deposited into the account created under W.S. 23
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1
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501(h).

Section 2.

This act is effective July 1, 2021.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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