87-1-601. Use of fish and game money. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (7), all money collected or received from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses or permits, from the sale of seized game or hides, from damages collected for violations of the fish and game laws of this state, from appropriations, or received by the department from any other state source must be turned over to the state treasurer and placed in the state special revenue fund to the credit of the department.
     (b) Any money received from federal sources must be deposited in the federal special revenue fund to the credit of the department.
     (c) All interest earned on money from the following sources must be placed in the state special revenue fund to the credit of the department:
     (i) the general license account;
     (ii) the license drawing account;
     (iii) accounts established to administer the provisions of 87-1-246, 87-1-258, 87-1-605, 87-2-412, 87-2-722, and 87-2-724; and
     (iv) money received from the sale of any other hunting and fishing license.
     (2) The money described in subsection (1) must be exclusively set apart and made available for the payment of all salaries, per diem, fees, expenses, and expenditures authorized to be made by the department under the terms of this title. The money described in subsection (1) must be spent for those purposes by the department, subject to appropriation by the legislature.
     (3) Any reference to the fish and game fund in this code means fish and game money in the state special revenue fund and the federal special revenue fund.
     (4) Except as provided in subsections (7) and (8), all money collected or received from fines and forfeited bonds, except money collected or received by a justice's court, that relates to violations of state fish and game laws under Title 87 must be deposited by the state treasurer and credited to the department in a state special revenue fund account for this purpose. Out of any fine imposed by a court for the violation of the fish and game laws, the costs of prosecution must be paid to the county where the trial was held in any case in which the fine is not imposed in addition to the costs of prosecution.
     (5) Money received by the department from the sale of surplus real property; from exploration or development of oil, gas, or mineral deposits from lands acquired by the department except royalties or other compensation based on production; and from leases of interests in department real property not contemplated at the time of acquisition must be deposited in an account within the nonexpendable trust fund of the state treasury. The interest derived from the fund, but not the principal, may be used only for the purpose of operation, development, and maintenance of real property of the department, and only upon appropriation by the legislature. If the use of money as set forth in this section would result in violation of applicable federal laws or state statutes specifically naming the department or money received by the department, then the use of this money must be limited in the manner, method, and amount to those uses that do not result in a violation.
     (6) Money received from the collection of license drawing applications is not subject to the deposit requirements of 17-6-105. The department shall deposit license drawing application money within a reasonable time after receipt.
     (7) Money collected or received from fines or forfeited bonds for the violation of 77-1-801, 77-1-806, or rules adopted under 77-1-804 must be deposited as follows:
     (a) 50% in an account for use by the department for the enforcement of 77-1-801, 77-1-806, and rules adopted under 77-1-804; and
     (b) 50% in the state lands recreational use account established by 77-1-808 for use by the department of natural resources and conservation in the management of state lands.
     (8) After July 1, 1995, the state treasurer shall deposit in the state general fund one-half of the money received from the fines pursuant to 87-1-102.

     History: En. Sec. 21, Ch. 193, L. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3670, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 32, Ch. 59, L. 1927; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 53, L. 1933; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 114, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 159, Ch. 147, L. 1963; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 511, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 417, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 26-121; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 640, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 388, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 45, Ch. 281, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 62, Ch. 557, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 41, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 339, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 609, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 417, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 487, Ch. 418, L. 1995.