Pennsylvania § 521 - Establishment and use of Game Fund.

§ 521. Establishment and use of Game 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 Game Fund and shall be used solely for any contingent, incidental or other expenses of any kind or description reasonably necessary in carrying on the work of the commission, including, but not limited to, the purchase of land, the costs of activities for the promotion of public interest in recreational hunting and furtaking, nongame species, endangered or threatened species and all other game or wildlife in this Commonwealth and administration of this title.

(b) Specific allocation of certain revenues.--

(1) A minimum of $4.25 from each resident and nonresident license and $2 from each antlerless deer license issued for which the full fee has been paid shall be used for habitat improvement, development, maintenance, protection and restoration conducive to increasing natural propagation of game and wildlife on all lands under the control or operation of the commission, including lands enrolled in the commission's public access programs and other public lands open to hunting under agreement with the commission. The moneys collected under this paragraph shall be deposited into one separate account and shall be used exclusively for the natural propagation of game and wildlife by:

(i) Improving and maintaining any natural wildlife habitat by the production, distribution and planting of trees, shrubs, vines and forage crops.

(ii) Forest management practices related to the creation and development of food and cover.

(iii) Development and management of food and cover openings, including maintenance of soil fertility and herbaceous ground cover.

(iv) Purchase, construction and enhancement of wetlands and riparian areas.

(v) Construction and maintenance of nesting, brooding and rearing structures or areas.

(vi) The prorated cost for the purchase, maintenance and operation of equipment, tools and materials necessary to meet the habitat improvement objectives of this section. No moneys in this account shall be used for capital purchases under this subparagraph.

The commission shall submit an annual report on all expenditures from this account in the manner prescribed under section 522 (relating to appropriation and audit of moneys).

(2) Any moneys collected by or for the commission from the sale of the migratory bird hunting license shall be used for the purpose of migratory game bird management, habitat acquisition and improvement and related program administrative costs.

(3) (Deleted by amendment).

(Dec. 17, 1990, P.L.687, No.170, eff. imd.; Apr. 4, 1996, P.L.55, No.19, eff. imd.; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1274, No.166, eff. July 1, 1999; Nov. 25, 2002, P.L.1120, No.138, eff. July 1, 2002)

2002 Amendment. Act 138 amended subsec. (b).