76-22-109. Sage grouse stewardship account. (1) There is a sage grouse stewardship account in the state special revenue fund established in 17-2-102. Subject to appropriation by the legislature, money deposited in the account must be used pursuant to the provisions of this part to maintain, enhance, restore, expand, or benefit sage grouse habitat and populations for the heritage of Montana and its people.
(2) The following funds must be deposited in the account:
(a) money received by the department in the form of grants, gifts, transfers, bequests, payments for credits or financial contributions made pursuant to 76-22-111, and donations, including donations limited in their purpose by the grantor, or appropriations from any source intended to be used for the purposes of this account; and
(b) any interest or income earned on the account.
(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the department shall make disbursements from the account to projects approved by the oversight team to receive grants.
(4) The majority of the funds in the account may not be disbursed before the habitat quantification tool has been adopted. The habitat quantification tool must be applied to any project funded after the habitat quantification tool has been adopted. The majority of the account funds must be awarded to projects that generate credits that are available for compensatory mitigation under 76-22-111. When selecting projects to receive funds, the oversight team shall prioritize projects that maximize the amount of credits generated per dollars of funds awarded.
(5) Money deposited in the account may not be used:
(a) for fee simple acquisition of private land;
(b) to purchase water rights;
(c) to purchase a lease or conservation easement that requires recreational access or prohibits hunting, fishing, or trapping as part of its terms; or
(d) to allow the release of any species listed under 87-5-107 or the federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.
(6) Any unspent or unencumbered money in the account at the end of a fiscal year must remain in the account.