Section 1572 Of Article 3. Shared Habitat Alliance For Recreational Enhancement Program From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 3.
1572
. (a) There is hereby established the Shared Habitat Alliance
for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program. The department, in
partnership with nonprofit conservation groups and other interested
nongovernmental organizations that seek to increase and enhance
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities, shall work
cooperatively to implement the program in order to facilitate public
access to private lands in a voluntary and incentive-based manner.
(b) The department shall adopt regulations for the management and
control of wildlife-dependent recreational activities on land that is
subject to the program. The department shall report to the
commission annually on the status of the program and maintain data on
the types of wildlife-dependent recreational activities preferred by
landowners and participants in the program.
(c) (1) The SHARE Account is hereby established in the Fish and
Game Preservation Fund. Money deposited in the account from the
sources cited in this subdivision shall only be used for the purposes
set forth in this article.
(2) Consistent with existing law, the department may establish and
impose user fees, use existing hunting and fishing license stamp or
tag fees from the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, or apply for
grants, federal funds, or other contributions from other sources to
fund the program. General Fund moneys shall not be used for the
program.
(3) All funding generated pursuant to paragraph (2) from grants,
federal funds, or other sources, where the person or entity providing
the funds specifically designates in writing prior to the time of
transmittal of the funds to the department that the funds are
intended solely for the purposes of the program, and any user fees
assessed by the department specifically for the program, shall be
deposited in the SHARE Account in the Fish and Game Preservation
Fund. The moneys in the account, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, shall be available for expenditure by the department
solely for programs and projects to benefit the program and for the
direct costs and administrative overhead incurred solely in carrying
out the department's program activities. Funds may also be used for
wildlife conservation purposes on lands subject to an agreement under
the program. Administrative overhead shall be limited to the
reasonable costs associated with the direct administration of the
program. The department shall maintain internal accountability
necessary to ensure that all restrictions on the expenditure of these
funds are met.
(d) The department may make grants to, or enter into agreements
with, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, or any other
entities for the use of the funds described in subdivision (c) when
the department finds that the agreements are necessary for carrying
out the purposes of this article.
(e) The program is not subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section
10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, or Article 6
(commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the
Military and Veterans Code.
(f) The department may reimburse a nonprofit organization, a
private landowner, or other entity for its costs related to the
implementation of the program.