Section 3953 Of Chapter 1. Game Mammals From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 4. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1.
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. (a) The Big Game Management Account is hereby established
within the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
(b) Except as provided in Section 709, all revenues from the sale
of antelope, elk, deer, wild pig, bear, and sheep tags, including any
fundraising tags, shall be deposited in the Big Game Management
Account to permit separate accountability for the receipt and
expenditure of these funds. Within 30 days of the date of the sale,
the selling nonprofit organization shall send the department 95
percent of the total auction sale price of the tag, with an itemized
receipt showing the sale price and the 5-percent reduction retained
by the nonprofit organization as a vendor's fee.
(c) Funds deposited in the Big Game Management Account shall be
available for expenditure upon appropriation by the Legislature to
the department. These funds shall be expended solely for the purposes
set forth in this section and Sections 3951 and 3952, and Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 450) of Division 1, Chapter 7 (commencing
with Section 4650), and Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 4900),
including acquiring land, completing projects, and implementing
programs to benefit antelope, elk, deer, wild pigs, bear, and sheep,
and expanding public hunting opportunities and related public
outreach. Any land acquired with funds from the Big Game Management
Account shall be acquired in fee title or protected with a
conservation easement and, to the extent possible, be open or provide
access to the public for antelope, elk, deer, wild pig, bear, or
sheep hunting. The department may also use funds from the Big Game
Management Account to pay for administrative and enforcement costs of
the programs and activities described in this section. The amount
allocated from the account for administrative costs shall be limited
to the reasonable costs associated with administration of the
programs and activities described in this section.
(d) The department may make grants to, reimburse, or enter into
contracts or other agreements, as defined in subdivision (a) of
Section 1571, with nonprofit organizations for the use of the funds
from the Big Game Management Account to carry out the purposes of
this section, including related habitat conservation projects.
(e) An advisory committee, as determined by the department, that
includes interested nonprofit organizations that have goals and
objectives directly related to the management and conservation of big
game species and primarily represent the interests of persons
licensed pursuant to Section 3031 shall review and provide comments
to the department on all proposed projects funded from the Big Game
Management Account to help ensure that the requirements of this
section have been met. The department shall post budget information
and a brief description on an Internet Web site for all projects
funded from the Big Game Management Account.
(f) Big game projects authorized pursuant to this section are 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.
(g) The department shall maintain the internal accountability
necessary to ensure compliance with the collection, deposit, and
expenditure of funds specified in this section.