AB107: Bill Text

LRB-1709/1

RNK:jld:rs

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly BILL 107

March 20, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Kleefisch, Milroy, Berceau, Born, R. Brooks, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Edming, Heaton, Hesselbein, Hintz, Jacque, Kolste, Kremer, Krug, Kulp, T. Larson, Mason, Meyers, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Ohnstad, A. Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Quinn, Ripp, Skowronski, Spreitzer, Steffen, Subeck, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Vorpagel, Wachs, Weatherston and Zamarripa, cosponsored by Senators Moulton, Miller, Cowles, Lassa, Olsen, Vinehout and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage.

AB107,1,4 An Act to amend 20.370 (5) (fs), 20.370 (5) (ft), 29.565 (title), 29.565 (1), 29.89 (title), 29.89 (2), 29.89 (3) (b), 29.89 (3) (d), 29.89 (3) (e), 29.89 (4) and 29.89 (5) (a) of the statutes; relating to: authorizing reimbursement to counties for the costs incurred in processing and donating certain wild turkeys.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources administers a program to reimburse eligible counties for the costs incurred in processing and donating venison from certain deer (venison donation program). To be eligible for participation in the venison donation program, the county must accept deer carcasses for processing, it must pay the costs of the processing, and it must make reasonable efforts to donate the venison to a food distribution service or a charitable organization. Another eligibility requirement is that the county must participate in the wildlife damage abatement program and the wildlife damage claim program (wildlife damage programs). The wildlife damage programs reimburse a county for certain costs incurred for providing abatement assistance or for paying damage claims with respect to wildlife damage that occurs in the county. The venison donation program is funded in part by a wildlife damage surcharge on, and by voluntary contributions paid by persons who purchase, certain hunting approvals.

This bill expands the venison donation program to include wild turkey. Under the bill, a county is eligible to receive reimbursement for the costs incurred in processing and donating wild turkey, as well as the costs incurred in processing and donating venison, if the county accepts deer or wild turkey carcasses for processing and meets the other eligibility requirements for participation in the program.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB107,1 Section 1. 20.370 (5) (fs) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,2,6 20.370 (5) (fs) Venison and wild turkey processing. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule from moneys received under s. 29.563 (13) for the venison and wild turkey processing and donation program under s. 29.89 and for promotional and educational activities and materials to encourage voluntary contributions under s. 29.565.

AB107,2 Section 2. 20.370 (5) (ft) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,2,12 20.370 (5) (ft) Venison and wild turkey processing; voluntary contributions. All moneys received from voluntary contributions under s. 29.565 to be used for payments under the venison and wild turkey processing and donation program under s. 29.89 and for promotional and educational activities and materials to encourage voluntary contributions under s. 29.565.

AB107,3 Section 3. 29.565 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,2,15 29.565 (title) Voluntary contributions; venison and wild turkey processing and grant donation program.

AB107,4 Section 4. 29.565 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,2,20 29.565 (1) Any applicant for a hunting license listed under s. 29.563 (2) (a) or (b) may, in addition to paying any fee charged for the license, elect to make a voluntary contribution of at least $1 to be used for the venison and wild turkey processing and donation program under s. 29.89.

AB107,5 Section 5. 29.89 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,3,2 29.89 (title) Venison and wild turkey processing and donation program.

AB107,6 Section 6. 29.89 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,3,7 29.89 (2) Establishment of program. The department shall establish a program to reimburse counties for the costs that they incur in processing and donating venison from certain deer carcasses and in processing and donating meat from certain wild turkey carcasses.

AB107,7 Section 7. 29.89 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,3,10 29.89 (3) (b) The county accepts deer carcasses or wild turkey carcasses for processing.

AB107,8 Section 8. 29.89 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,3,13 29.89 (3) (d) The county pays for the costs of processing the venison or wild turkey meat.

AB107,9 Section 9. 29.89 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,3,16 29.89 (3) (e) The county shall make reasonable efforts to donate the venison or wild turkey meat as provided under sub. (4).

AB107,10 Section 10. 29.89 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,3,21 29.89 (4) Donations authorized. A county may donate the processed venison or process wild turkey meat to a food distribution service or a charitable organization. The county may require that the carcasses be field dressed before accepting them for processing.

AB107,11 Section 11. 29.89 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB107,4,2 29.89 (5) (a) Subject to par. (c), reimbursement under this section shall equal the costs, including administrative costs, that a county incurs in processing the venison or wild turkey meat and in donating the processed venison or wild turkey meat under sub. (4).

AB107,4,3 (End)