INTRODUCED
BY J. Cohenour, M. Blasdel, B. Brown, J. Ellsworth, C. Friedel, B. Gillespie,
J. Gross, T. Jacobson, D. Salomon, J. Small, M. Sweeney, J. Welborn, R. Lynch
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ALLOWING LIMITED DRAWING REFUNDS TO BE DONATED TO THE HUNTERS AGAINST HUNGER ACCOUNT OR THE HABITAT MONTANA ACCOUNT; and AMENDING SECTIONS 87-1-242, 87-1-628, AND 87-2-124, MCA."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1.Section 87-1-242, MCA, is amended to read:
"87-1-242. (Bracketed language in subsection (3) effective October 1, 2021) Funding for wildlife habitat. (1) The amount of money specified in this subsection from the sale of each hunting license or permit listed must be used exclusively by the commission to secure, develop, and maintain wildlife habitat, subject to appropriation by the legislature:
(a) Class B-10, nonresident combination, $77;
(b) Nonresident antelope, $20;
(d) Nonresident mountain goat, $20;
(e) Nonresident mountain sheep, $20;
(f) Class D-1, nonresident mountain lion, $20;
(g) Nonresident black bear, $20;
(h) Nonresident wild turkey, $10;
(i) Class AAA, combination sports, $7;
(j) Class B-11 nonresident deer combination, $200.
(2) Twenty percent of any increase in the fee for the Class B-7 license or any license or permit listed in subsection (1) must be allocated for use as provided in subsection (1).
(3) Eighty percent of the money allocated by this section and all donations received pursuant to 87-2-124, [together with money from marijuana taxes deposited under 16-12-111 and] together with the interest and income from the money, must be used to secure wildlife habitat pursuant to 87-1-209.
(4) Twenty percent of the money allocated by this section must be used as follows:
(a) up to 50% a year may be used for development and maintenance of real property used for wildlife habitat; and
(b) the remainder and any money not allocated for development and maintenance under subsection (4)(a) by the end of each odd-numbered fiscal year must be credited to the account created by 87-1-601(5) for use in the manner prescribed for the development and maintenance of real property used for wildlife habitat."
Section 1. Section 87-1-628, MCA, is amended to read:
"87-1-628. Hunters against hunger account. (1) There is a hunters against hunger account in the state special revenue fund established by 17-2-102. Funds deposited into this account must be used by the department for the purposes of 87-1-293.
(2) The following money must be deposited into the account:
(a) donations received pursuant to 87-1-293 or 87-2-124;
(b) interest earned on the account; and
(c) money received by the department in the form of gifts or grants or from any source intended to be used for the purposes of 87-1-293.
(3) Any money in the account that is unspent or unencumbered at the end of a fiscal year must remain in the account."
Section 2. Section 87-2-124, MCA, is amended to read:
"87-2-124. (Effective March 1, 2022) Option to direct limited drawing refunds to block management program. A person who participates in a limited drawing but is not successful in the drawing may opt, upon application, to direct that the refund the person is eligible to receive instead be deposited in the:
(1) the hunting access account established in 87-1-290 and used for the purpose of funding the block management program established by administrative rule pursuant to authority contained in 87-1-301 and 87-1-303; or
(2) the hunters against hunger account established in 87-1-628; or
(3) the account used to fund wildlife habitat pursuant to 87-1-242."