AB301: Bill Text

LRB-2812/1

RNK:med:lmp

2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Assembly BILL 301

October 5, 2011 - Introduced by Representatives Suder, Kapenga, Ripp, Rivard, Krug, Jacque, Thiesfeldt, Stroebel, Spanbauer, Kleefisch, LeMahieu, A. Ott, Mursau, Kestell and Endsley, cosponsored by Senators Moulton, Lasee and Schultz. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB301,1,3 An Act to renumber and amend 29.037; and to create 29.037 (2) of the statutes; relating to: review by the Joint Committee on Finance of the expenditure of certain federal funds by the Department of Natural Resources.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, this state receives federal funds under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act (federal act), to assist this state in implementing certain wildlife restoration projects. Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is authorized and directed to perform any acts necessary to establish cooperative wildlife restoration projects in compliance with the federal act. This bill prohibits DNR from expending any federal funds received under the federal act unless it first notifies the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) in writing of the project or activity for which it proposes to expend those funds. Under the bill, JCF may schedule a meeting to review DNR's proposal within a specified period of time. If JCF does not schedule such a meeting within that time, DNR may expend the funds as proposed. If JCF does schedule a meeting, then DNR may not expend the funds until the project or activity is approved by JCF.

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

AB301, s. 1 Section 1. 29.037 of the statutes is renumbered 29.037 (1) and amended to read:

AB301,2,11 29.037 (1) This state assents to the provisions of 16 USC 669 to 669i 669k and 777 to 777L. The department is authorized and directed to perform any acts necessary to establish cooperative wildlife restoration projects and cooperative fish restoration and management projects in compliance with these federal provisions and with regulations promulgated by the secretary of the interior. No funds accruing to this state from license fees paid by hunters and from sport and recreation fishing license fees may be diverted for any other purpose than the administration of the department when it is exercising its responsibilities that are specific to the management of the fish and wildlife resources of this state.

AB301, s. 2 Section 2. 29.037 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB301,3,2 29.037 (2) The department may not expend funds from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (my) that were provided to the department under 16 USC 669 to 669k unless the department first notifies the joint committee on finance in writing of the project or activity for which the department proposes to expend the funds. If the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance do not notify the department within 14 working days after the date on which the department notifies the committee of the proposal that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the proposal, the project or activity may be implemented and funds may be expended as proposed by the department. If, within 14 working days after the date on which the department notifies the committee of the proposal, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the proposal, funds may be expended only after the project or activity has been approved by the committee.

AB301,3,3 (End)