Authority: IC 14-9-5-4; IC 14-10-2-4

Affected: IC 14-22-12-1; IC 15-17-5-1

Sec. 3. (a) To qualify for a grant under this rule, a qualified organization must do the following:

1. (1) Submit an application to the division on a departmental form. Except as provided in section 4(d) of this rule, only complete requests received timely by the division on an approved application form shall be considered for funding.
2. (2) Show compliance with the definition of a qualified organization.
3. (3) Provide a project description for use of the grant, including the amount of the proposed project.
4. (4) Document estimated costs for each stage of the project.
5. (5) Provide a written proposal for any work to be performed by a participating meat processor.

(b) Upon reasonable request by the division, a grantee and a participating meat processor must provide access to and copies of all records that show the acquisition of a wild animal and disbursement of the meat and funds.

(c) Only ground venison from white-tailed deer taken in Indiana qualifies as a reimbursable consumable product. Ground venison must be provided to the state's hungry in either one (1) or two (2) pound packages that are marked clearly on the outside: A member of the state's hungry must not receive more than ten (10) pounds of ground venison each week.

(d) A grantee must use a meat processor with a facility that:

1. (1) is subject to inspection by the Indiana state board of animal health under IC 15-17-5-1 to produce food for human consumption; and
2. (2) complies with the requirements of the weights and measures program of the Indiana state department of health.

(e) A grantee must keep true and accurate records of the number of donors, pounds of donated venison, and charitable recipient group. The records must be:

1. (1) submitted to the division by May 1 following the taking of the white-tailed deer; and
2. (2) made available to a conservation officer at all reasonable hours, and copies must be provided to a conservation officer upon request.

(f) If a grantee or the grantee's participating meat processor violates IC 14-9-5-4 or this rule, the department may:

1. (1) terminate the grant; and
2. (2) demand that funds allocated under this rule be returned immediately to the division.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 26-6-3; filed Jul 7, 2014, 11:01 a.m.: 20140806-IR-312130446FRA; readopted filed Sep 27, 2016, 1:53 p.m.: 20161026-IR-312160147RFA; readopted filed May 18, 2022, 10:15 a.m.: 20220615-IR- 312220030RFA)