Section 23-1-501 - Game and fish fund(a) The Wyoming game and fish fund is continued in existence.(b) All revenue received by the commission or department shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the Wyoming game and fish fund. Monies in the fund designated by the commission for investment in the Pool A investment account shall be invested pursuant to W.S. 9-4-715(p). The commission may establish accounts within the fund to carry out the purposes of this act, in addition to those accounts established by law. The Wyoming game and fish fund shall be expended as the commission may direct to carry out the purposes of this act and for no other purpose, except that the legislature may appropriate so much thereof as necessary for expenses of any authorized legislative committee to study matters relating to the commission or department. Expenditures from the Wyoming game and fish fund shall be made only by warrant issued by the state auditor upon vouchers signed by the director and chief fiscal officer, or other persons designated by the commission to sign in their absence, substantiated and approved as provided by law.(c) An account within the Wyoming game and fish fund is created. Revenues collected from the sale of licenses under W.S. 23-2-101(j)(vii), (viii) and (xlvi) and 23-2-201(d)(viii) shall be deposited within the account. The commission may annually transfer into the fund from the account an amount not to exceed six percent (6%) of the total account balance.(d) A trust account within the Wyoming game and fish fund is created. Gifts accepted by the commission as provided under W.S. 23-1-302(a)(xxviii) shall be deposited within the account. The commission shall maintain a public record of each donor and the amount of the gift. The commission may make expenditures from the account for any purpose for which the commission is authorized by law to expend funds, subject to any restrictions or conditions placed on the gift by the donor. The commission shall maintain a public record of the amount of each expenditure from the account and the purpose for the expenditure.(e) An account within the game and fish fund is created. Revenues collected under W.S. 23-2-101(n), 23-2-201(e) and as specified under W.S. 23-2-306(a) and (b) shall be deposited within the account. The commission shall use revenues in the account to purchase access easements to provide access to public and private lands. The commission shall notify in writing the appropriate boards of county commissioners before purchasing any access easements under this subsection. In addition and on or before February 1 of each year, the commission shall annually report to the legislature on easements purchased pursuant to this subsection during the preceding fiscal year.(f) A trust account separate and apart from the trust account established under subsection (d) of this section is created within the Wyoming game and fish fund. The account shall consist of those funds appropriated or designated to the account by law or by gift from whatever source. Funds deposited within the account are intended to be inviolate and constitute a permanent or perpetual trust account which shall be invested by the state treasurer as authorized by law and in a manner to obtain the highest net return possible consistent with preservation of the account corpus. Earnings from investment of the account corpus shall be credited by the state treasurer into the Wyoming game and fish fund to be expended by the commission for purposes specified under subsection (b) of this section.(g) An account within the game and fish fund is created. Revenues received pursuant to W.S. 23-4-204 shall be credited to the account and are continuously appropriated to the commission to be expended for the prevention, surveillance, containment and direct and indirect costs associated with the administration of the aquatic invasive species program created under chapter 4, article 2 of this act.(h) An account within the game and fish fund is created. The portion of the revenues collected as specified under W.S. 23-2-306(e) shall be deposited into the account. Revenues deposited in the account created under this subsection are continuously appropriated to the commission and all earnings on funds in the account shall remain in the account. The commission shall use revenues in the account only as specified in this subsection and subject to the following requirements: (i) Of the revenues collected, not less than eighty-five percent (85%) shall be used by the commission to purchase access easements or other agreements to provide public access to private, federal and state lands that are difficult to access or inaccessible by the public for hunting and fishing purposes. The commission shall notify the appropriate boards of county commissioners in writing before purchasing any access easements or entering into any agreements under this paragraph and shall hold public hearings at the request of any board of county commissions;(ii) Of the revenues collected, not greater than fifteen percent (15%) shall be used to provide for wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system, including signage, wildlife corridors, wildlife crossings, fish passages and game fences;(iii) As part of the annual report required under subsection (e) of this section, the commission shall report to the legislature on all expenditures pursuant to this subsection during the preceding fiscal year.Amended by Laws 2022 , ch. 9, § 1, eff. 7/1/2022.Amended by Laws 2021 , ch. 144, § 2, eff. 7/1/2021.Amended by Laws 2021 , ch. 108, § 1, eff. 7/1/2021.Amended by Laws 2021 , ch. 73, § 1, eff. 7/1/2021.Amended by Laws 2015 , ch. 27, § 1, eff. 1/1/2016.