(a) The receipts of the Department of Fish and Wildlife shall not become a part of the General Fund of the State but shall be used solely for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Interest on the cash balance of Department receipts shall likewise accrue to the Department.

(b) The State of Vermont assents to the provisions of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of September 2, 1937, as amended (16 U.S.C. §§ 669-669i) and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act of August 1950, as amended (16 U.S.C. §§ 777-777k) and diversion of license fees paid by hunters and anglers to purposes other than the administration of the Department of Fish and Wildlife is prohibited.

(c) Receipts for each fiscal year in excess of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year shall remain in the Fish and Wildlife Fund and be carried forward to the following year. If appropriations exceed receipts, the Commissioner of Finance and Management may anticipate receipts and issue warrants based thereon. With the approval of the Emergency Board, funds not to exceed $100,000.00 each fiscal year may be appropriated to the Department if needed for any emergency under the jurisdiction of the Board or Department that may occur during any fiscal year.

(d) With the approval of the Emergency Board, funds not to exceed $300,000.00 may be appropriated each fiscal year for the purpose of purchasing land to achieve the purposes of the Department. Such purchase(s) shall be in accordance with the provisions of this title. Each purchase shall be approved by the Emergency Board. These funds may be used in conjunction with funds provided by other State agencies, the federal government, or any provider or quasi-public entity.

(e) Receipts from tuition charged for attendance at Green Mountain Conservation Camps shall be deposited in the Fish and Wildlife Fund.

(f) A Species and Habitat Conservation Fund is created within the Fish and Wildlife Fund. The Commissioner may solicit federal funds, grants, and private contributions and may accept mitigation payments directed toward fish and wildlife species and habitat conservation. Such monies shall be deposited in the Species and Habitat Conservation Fund, and the Commissioner may make expenditures from the Fund for purposes of species and habitat conservation. Interest accrued on the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 95, § 307; 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1991, No. 230 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1993, No. 210 (Adj. Sess.), § 206; 1995, No. 5, § 43, eff. March 3, 1995; 1995, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 385, eff. May 22, 1996; 1995, 1995, No. 186 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. May 22, 1996; 1997, No. 2, § 73, eff. Feb. 12, 1997; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 40, eff. Jan. 1, 1999; 2003, No. 70 (Adj. Sess.), § 26, eff. March 1, 2004; 2003, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 46, eff. Aug. 20, 2004; 2007, No. 76, § 26; 2011, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 26.)