Chapter 728 Oregon Laws 2011

AN ACT

HB 3636

Relating to predatory animal control; and appropriating money.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section:

(a) “Fur-bearing mammal,” “hunt” and “wildlife” have the meanings given those terms in ORS 496.004.

(b) “Predatory animals” means those animals listed in ORS 610.002, black bears, cougars, fur-bearing mammals and gray wolves.

(2)(a) Each application for the purchase and issuance of a license, tag or permit to hunt wildlife pursuant to ORS 497.102 or 497.112 must include a separate section under which the applicant may make a voluntary contribution to be used for predatory animal control, to the extent allowable under federal and state law, in the county or counties in which the license, tag or permit allows the person to hunt.

(b) A voluntary contribution made under this section does not convey a privilege to hunt wildlife, and is considered separate from any moneys paid by the applicant for the issuance of a license, tag or permit.

(c) Before developing a predatory animal control program, a county shall consult with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife or the State Department of Agriculture, depending on the predatory animals that are part of the program.

(d) Voluntary contributions received under this section shall be deposited in the Wildlife Conservation Fund established under section 2 of this 2011 Act.

(3)(a) The State Department of Fish and Wildlife shall keep track of voluntary contributions made under this section. Each quarter the department shall pay to each county in which hunting took place under a license, tag or permit issued under the wildlife laws an amount equal to the total of the voluntary contributions made in association with applications for licenses, tags or permits allowing persons to hunt in the county.

(b) If a license, tag or permit allows the holder to hunt in an area that includes land within more than one county, the department shall designate a proportionate share of any voluntary contribution under this section to each county based on the percentage of the area that is in each county.

SECTION 2. (1) The Wildlife Conservation Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the Wildlife Conservation Fund shall be credited to the fund. Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to be paid to counties as provided in section 1 of this 2011 Act.

(2) The Wildlife Conservation Fund shall consist of voluntary contributions received by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife pursuant to section 1 of this 2011 Act.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding sections 1 and 2 of this 2011 Act, the first $45,000 in voluntary contributions received by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife under sections 1 and 2 of this 2011 Act shall be used by the department to modify its system for the purchase and issuance of licenses, tags and permits in order to allow the department to associate specific sales with specific counties and to separate voluntary contributions from the purchase and issuance of licenses, tags and permits.

Approved by the Governor August 5, 2011

Filed in the office of Secretary of State August 8, 2011

Effective date January 1, 2012

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