§ 4047. Department of Fish and Wildlife funds
(a) The receipts of the Department of Fish and Wildlife shall not become a part of the
General Fund of the State but shall be used solely for the Department of Fish and
Wildlife. Interest on the cash balance of Department receipts shall likewise accrue
to the Department.
(b) The State of Vermont assents to the provisions of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration
Act of September 2, 1937, as amended (16 U.S.C. §§ 669-669i) and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act of August 1950, as amended (16 U.S.C. §§ 777-777k) and diversion of license fees paid by hunters and anglers to purposes other than
the administration of the Department of Fish and Wildlife is prohibited.
(c) Receipts for each fiscal year in excess of the amount appropriated for each fiscal
year shall remain in the Fish and Wildlife Fund and be carried forward to the following
year. If appropriations exceed receipts, the Commissioner of Finance and Management
may anticipate receipts and issue warrants based thereon. With the approval of the
Emergency Board, funds not to exceed $100,000.00 each fiscal year may be appropriated
to the Department if needed for any emergency under the jurisdiction of the Board
or Department that may occur during any fiscal year.
(d) With the approval of the Emergency Board, funds not to exceed $300,000.00 may be appropriated
each fiscal year for the purpose of purchasing land to achieve the purposes of the
Department. Such purchase(s) shall be in accordance with the provisions of this title.
Each purchase shall be approved by the Emergency Board. These funds may be used in
conjunction with funds provided by other State agencies, the federal government, or
any provider or quasi-public entity.
(e) Receipts from tuition charged for attendance at Green Mountain Conservation Camps
shall be deposited in the Fish and Wildlife Fund.
(f) A Species and Habitat Conservation Fund is created within the Fish and Wildlife Fund.
The Commissioner may solicit federal funds, grants, and private contributions and
may accept mitigation payments directed toward fish and wildlife species and habitat
conservation. Such monies shall be deposited in the Species and Habitat Conservation
Fund, and the Commissioner may make expenditures from the Fund for purposes of species
and habitat conservation. Interest accrued on the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 95, § 307; 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1991, No. 230 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1993, No. 210 (Adj. Sess.), § 206; 1995, No. 5, § 43, eff. March 3, 1995; 1995, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 385, eff. May 22, 1996; 1995, No. 186 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. May 22, 1996; 1997, No. 2, § 73, eff. Feb. 12, 1997; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 40, eff. Jan. 1, 1999; 2003, No. 70 (Adj. Sess.), § 26, eff. March 1, 2004; 2003, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 46, eff. Aug. 20, 2004; 2007, No. 76, § 26; 2011, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 26.)