1. To the end that there shall be promoted a wider understanding of the problems affecting conservation of natural resources in this state, it is declared advisable to authorize the agents who issue hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to sell annual subscriptions to the official magazine of the department, "The New York State Conservationist."

2. Any entity which is authorized by section 11-0713 of this chapter to sell hunting, trapping and fishing licenses is hereby authorized, but not required, to sell annual subscriptions to the department's official magazine, "The New York State Conservationist." The fee to be charged for a subscription to such magazine shall be such fee as the commissioner may, after consultation with the division of the budget, deem necessary for the best interest of the state. Such fee shall be collected from each subscriber at the time of receiving application for subscription. All collected fees, minus a 5.5 percent commission, shall be remitted monthly, on a schedule to be determined by the department. All receipts of the department from subscriptions shall be deposited in an account in the miscellaneous special revenue fund-other. The comptroller is authorized and directed to permit interest earnings on any balances to accrue to the benefit of this account.