_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT creating revenue for bison management; establishing an auction for a wild buffalo or bison LICENSE; directing lottery license proceeds; and amending SECTION 87-1-271, MCA."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 87-1-271, MCA, is amended to read:

"87-1-271. Annual lottery of hunting licenses -- proceeds dedicated to hunting access. (1) The commission may issue through a lottery one license each year for each of the following:

(a) deer;

(b) elk;

(d) mountain sheep;

(e) mountain goat;

(f) wild buffalo or bison;

(g) antelope; and

(h) mountain lion.

(2) The restriction in 87-2-702(4) that a person who receives a moose, mountain goat, or mountain sheep special license is not eligible to receive another license for that species for the next 7 years does not apply to a person who receives a license through a lottery conducted pursuant to this section.

(3) The commission shall establish rules regarding:

(a) the conduct of the lottery authorized in this section;

(b) the use of licenses issued through the lottery; and

(4) (a) Except as provided in 87-2-903 and subsection (4)(b), all proceeds from a lottery conducted pursuant to this section must be used by the department for hunting access programs and law enforcement.

(b) Proceeds from a wild buffalo or bison auction must be used for the management of wild bison pursuant to 87-1-216.

(5) At the end of each fiscal year, any unspent funds must be transferred to the general license account established in 87-1-601(1)."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Bison license auction. (1) The commission may issue one wild buffalo or bison license each year through competitive auction. A wildlife conservation organization approved by the commission may conduct the license auction. The wildlife conservation organization may retain up to 10% of the proceeds to cover reasonable auction expenses.

(2) After payment of auction expenses, proceeds must be used for the management of wild bison pursuant to 87-1-216.

(3) At the end of each fiscal year, any unspent funds must be transferred to the general license account established in 87-1-601(1).

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 2] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 87, chapter 2, part 7, and the provisions of Title 87, chapter 2, part 7, apply to [section 2].