44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO GAME AND FISH; ESTABLISHING A BIG GAME PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR BIG GAME PARTNERSHIP LICENSES TO BE ISSUED; CREATING THE BIG GAME PARTNERSHIP FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Big Game Partnership Act".

Section 2. DEFINITION.--As used in the Big Game Partnership Act, "big game" means large wild ungulates that may be hunted under rules adopted by the state game commission.

Section 3. BIG GAME PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM--POWERS AND DUTIES--LICENSES.--

A. Pursuant to rules of the state game commission, the department of game and fish shall establish a big game partnership program for the purpose of promoting big game propagation and maintenance on public and private lands. The big game partnership program shall:

(1) pursuant to Subsection B of this section, undertake cooperative projects on private and public lands to conserve, control and manage big game;

(2) use the best management practice for big game habitat; and

(3) annually conduct a performance evaluation, including costs and accomplishments, of the big game partnership program and report the results of this evaluation to the commission.

B. The state game commission shall, by rule, prescribe the form, species and number of big game partnerships. Pursuant to the rules of the commission, the department of game and fish may enter into cooperative agreements with other state agencies, federal agencies or private persons for the purpose of maximizing big game production on public and private property; provided that:

(1) each agreement shall be approved by the commission; and

(2) the department's share for the costs of any such project shall not exceed fifty percent. The department may accept private or public grants or gifts and contributions of materials, equipment or services to meet the matching funds provision of a cooperative agreement.

C. Pursuant to rules of the state game commission, the department of game and fish may issue special big game partnership licenses. Proceeds from the sale of big game partnership licenses shall be deposited in the big game partnership fund.

D. Within one year of the effective date of the Big Game Partnership Act, the state game commission shall adopt rules for the big game partnership program.

Section 4. BIG GAME PARTNERSHIP FUND CREATED--APPROPRIATION.--

A. The "big game partnership fund" is created in the state treasury. All appropriations, gifts, devises, grants, donations and license fees received by the department of game and fish pursuant to the Big Game Partnership Act shall be deposited in the fund. Money in the fund is appropriated to the department for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Big Game Partnership Act pursuant to rules adopted by the state game commission. Any earnings accruing to the fund shall remain in the fund. Money in the fund shall not revert at the end of a fiscal year.

B. The fund shall be administered by the department of game and fish pursuant to rules of the state game commission. Disbursements from the fund shall be made only upon warrant drawn by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the director of the department of game and fish.

Section 5. DELAYED REPEAL.--Sections 1 through 4 of this act are repealed effective June 30, 2003.