Effective: October 22, 2020
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 163 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) The wildlife habitat fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of the investment earnings of the wildlife habitat trust fund created in section 1531.32 of the Revised Code; gifts, donations, bequests, and other moneys contributed to the division of wildlife for the purposes of the fund; moneys collected under division (H) of section 1531.06 of the Revised Code; moneys deposited in the fund under division (G)(2)(b) of section 1509.73 of the Revised Code; contributions collected under section 4503.568 of the Revised Code from issuance of the "Ohio Bullfrog" license plate; and moneys received by the division pursuant to negotiated mitigation settlements from persons who have adversely affected fish and wildlife, or their habitats, over which the division has jurisdiction under this chapter or Chapter 1533. of the Revised Code other than fish and wildlife of the Ohio river or their habitats.
(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, the fund shall be used by the division to acquire and develop lands for the preservation, propagation, and protection of wild animals.
(2) The contributions from the "Ohio Bullfrog" license plate shall be used for the protection and preservation of wetlands in Ohio and for educational programs pertaining to the bullfrog and similar wetland animals.
(C) All expenditures from the wildlife habitat fund shall be approved by the director of natural resources.
(D) Quarterly each fiscal year, the treasurer of state shall transfer the investment earnings of the wildlife habitat trust fund to the wildlife habitat fund.