Subd. 1. Establishment; purposes.

The game and fish fund is established as a fund in the state treasury.

Subd. 2. Receipts.

The state treasurer shall credit to the game and fish fund all money received under the game and fish laws including receipts from:

1. (1) licenses issued;
2. (2) fines and forfeited bail;
3. (3) sales of contraband, wild animals, and other property under the control of the division;
4. (4) fees from advanced education courses for hunters and trappers;
5. (5) reimbursements of expenditures by the division; and
6. (6) contributions to the division.

Subd. 3. Game and fish fund fees.

To reduce yearly fluctuations of the game and fish fund balance and to provide improved long-range planning of the fund, the policy of the state is to make fee adjustments as part of the budget process. Agency responsibilities are:

1. (a) The commissioner of natural resources must make specific requests for fee adjustments for all receipt items in the game and fish fund as a part of the fee report.
2. (b) The commissioner of finance must review the fee report and make recommendations for each fee. The commissioner of finance must submit a six-year projection on revenues and expenditures to the legislature.

Subd. 4. Annual reports.

1. (a) By November 15 each year, the commissioner shall submit to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over appropriations and the environment and natural resources reports on each of the following:

   1. (1) the amount of revenue from the following and purposes for which expenditures were made:

      1. (i) the small game license surcharge under section 97A.475, subdivision 4;
      2. (ii) the Minnesota migratory waterfowl stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 5, clause (1);
      3. (iii) the trout and salmon stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 10;
      4. (iv) the pheasant stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 5, clause (2); and
      5. (v) the turkey stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 5, clause (3);
   2. (2) the amounts available under section 97A.075, subdivision 1, paragraphs (b) and (c), and the purposes for which these amounts were spent; and
   3. (3) money credited to the game and fish fund under this section and purposes for which expenditures were made from the fund.
2. (b) The report must include the commissioner's recommendations, if any, for changes in the laws relating to the stamps and surcharge referenced in paragraph (a).

Subd. 4a. Citizen oversight committees.

1. (a) The commissioner shall appoint committees of affected persons to review the reports prepared under subdivision 4 and other relevant information and make recommendations to the legislature and the commissioner for improvements in the management and use of money in the game and fish fund.

2. (b) The commissioner shall appoint the following committees:

   1. (1) a committee to review the annual game and fish fund report and address general game and fish fund issues;
   2. (2) a committee to address funding issues related to fishing;
   3. (3) a committee to review the report on the small game license surcharge and the report required in subdivision 4, paragraph (a), clause (2), and address funding issues related to hunting;
   4. (4) a committee to review the trout and salmon stamp report and address funding issues related to trout and salmon;
   5. (5) a committee to review the report on the migratory waterfowl stamp and address funding issues related to migratory waterfowl;
   6. (6) a committee to review the report on the pheasant stamp and address funding issues related to pheasants; and
   7. (7) a committee to review the report on the turkey stamp and address funding issues related to wild turkeys.

Subd. 5. Pelting fees.

The commissioner may pay a pelting fee to a person who recovers, treats, preserves, or transports the pelt of a fur-bearing animal that is accidentally killed or is lawfully taken under section 97B.655. The commissioner may adopt rules setting pelting fees and governing their payment. The amounts necessary to pay the fees are appropriated from the game and fish fund to the commissioner.

* NOTE: The amendments to subdivisions 4 and 4a by Laws *1996, chapter 364, sections 1 and 2, are effective March 1, *1997, and apply to licenses issued beginning with the 1997 *license year. Laws 1996, chapter 364, section 7.