Pennsylvania § 521 - Establishment and use of Fish Fund.

§ 521. Establishment and use of Fish Fund.

(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this title, all fees, royalties, fines, penalties and other moneys paid, received, recovered and collected under the provisions of this title shall be placed in a separate fund by the State Treasurer to be known as the "Fish Fund" and shall be used solely for the following purposes:

(1) The payment of all expenses incurred in processing, issuing or supervising the issuance of fishing licenses, special licenses and permits.

(2) The payment of the salaries, wages or other compensation of the executive director, other employees and other persons as may be required for the work of the commission.

(3) The payment of the travel and other expenses of the members, officers, employees and other persons as may be required for the work of the commission.

(4) The purchase of such furniture, furnishings, stationery, supplies, materials, equipment, fuel, motor vehicles and printing and binding as may be necessary to the conduct of the work of the commission, and the payment of premiums on surety bonds for such officers or employees of the commission as may be required to obtain policies of workmen's compensation insurance and policies of liability insurance covering motor vehicles and persons operating them.

(5) The payment of postage, telegrams, telephone rentals, telephone toll charges and rentals for patented leased office devices or machines.

(6) Rentals for any offices outside of the Capitol buildings or any other grounds, buildings or quarters necessary for the work of the commission.

(7) The propagation, protection, management and distribution of fish and the stocking of waters within this Commonwealth as provided by law.

(8) Necessary repairs and improvements to fish cultural stations or other buildings, offices or quarters used in the work of the commission.

(9) Field work, gathering spawn and transferring fish.

(10) The maintenance and operation of such boats as may be required for the business of the commission.

(11) Any contingent, incidental or other expenses of any kind or description reasonably necessary in carrying on the work of the commission including the costs of activities for the promotion of public interest in recreational fishing in this Commonwealth.

(12) The direct purchase in any amount, without prior confirmation of the Department of General Services, of all fish and fish food for its fish cultural facilities and elsewhere as needed.

(13) The purchase of lands and waters and the impounding of waters and to make them available for use by the citizens of this Commonwealth for fishing, boating and other recreational purposes. The lands and waters so purchased shall be under the supervision, direction and control of the commission.

(14) The purchase and acquisition of additional land and water for Commonwealth fish cultural stations; the purchase, acquisition and erection of buildings, ponds and other extensions incidental to fish cultural stations; the propagation and protection of fish and fish cultural stations hereafter established; the distribution of fish from fish cultural stations; and the stocking of waters within this Commonwealth.

(15) The refund of fees, royalties, fines or other moneys heretofore or hereafter erroneously or unjustly paid into the Fish Fund.

(16) The lease of land, interests in land or licenses for the use thereof by the commission.

(b) Cooperative agreements.--The commission may enter into cooperative agreements with Federal, Commonwealth and other state and local government agencies and with interstate compact agencies, singly or in concert, for impounding, managing, using, maintaining and operating waters for public fishing and may expend moneys from the Fish Fund for agreed upon pro rata share of the cost of their acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance. The commission may enter into similar agreements and undertake similar expenditures in conjunction with private or commercial interests for the same purposes.

(c) Appropriation of moneys.--All moneys in the Fish Fund, from time to time, are hereby appropriated to the commission and may be expended for the purposes authorized under this title.

Cross References. Section 521 is referred to in section 701 of this title.