25.29 Conservation fund.

(1) There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the conservation fund to consist of:

(a) Except as provided in ss. 25.293 and 25.295, all moneys accruing to the state for or in behalf of the department under chs. 26, 27, 28, 29, 169, and 350, subchs. I and VI of ch. 77 and ss. 23.09 to 23.31, 23.325, 23.33, 23.335, except as provided in s. 25.40 (1) (bt), 23.35 to 23.42, 23.50 to 23.99, 30.50 to 30.55, 71.10 (5), 71.30 (10), and 90.21, including grants received from the federal government or any of its agencies except as otherwise provided by law.

(b) One percent of all sales and use taxes under s. 77.61 (1) on all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, boats and snowmobiles collected under ss. 23.33, 30.52 (4), 350.12 and 350.122.

(c) For fiscal year 1992-93, and for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equal to the estimated motorboat gas tax payment multiplied by 1.4. Except for fiscal years 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10, the estimated motorboat gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the number of motorboats registered under s. 30.52 on January 1 of the previous fiscal year by 50 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on April 1 of the previous fiscal year. For fiscal years 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10, the estimated motorboat gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the number of motorboats registered under s. 30.52 on January 1 of the previous fiscal year by 50.5 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on April 1 of the previous fiscal year.

(d)

1m. An amount equal to the estimated snowmobile gas tax payment.

2m. For fiscal years before fiscal year 2013-14, the estimated snowmobile gas tax payment is the sum of the following amounts:

a. An amount calculated by multiplying the number of snowmobiles registered under s. 350.12 or 350.122 on the last day of March of the previous fiscal year by 50 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of March of the previous fiscal year.

b. An amount equal to 40 percent of the amount calculated under subd. 2m. a.

3. For fiscal year 2013-14, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the estimated snowmobile gas tax payment is the sum of the following amounts:

a. An amount calculated by multiplying the number of snowmobiles registered under s. 350.12 or 350.122 on the last day of March of the previous fiscal year by 50 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of March of the previous fiscal year.

b. An amount equal to 55 percent of the amount calculated under subd. 3. a.

(dm)

1. An amount equal to the estimated all-terrain vehicle gas tax payment.

2. For fiscal years before fiscal year 2013-14, the estimated all-terrain vehicle gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the sum of the number of all-terrain vehicles registered for public use under s. 23.33 (2) (c) or (2g) and the number of reflectorized plates issued under s. 23.33 (2) (dm), 2009 stats., on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year by 25 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year.

3. For fiscal year 2013-14, the estimated all-terrain vehicle gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the sum of the number of all-terrain vehicles registered for public use under s. 23.33 (2) (c) or (2g), the number of reflectorized plates issued under s. 23.33 (2) (dm), 2009 stats., and the number of commercial all-terrain vehicle registration decals issued under s. 23.33 (2) (dm) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year by 25 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year.

4. For fiscal year 2014-15, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the estimated all-terrain vehicle gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the sum of the number of all-terrain vehicles registered for public use under s. 23.33 (2) (c) or (2g) and the number of commercial all-terrain vehicle registration decals issued under s. 23.33 (2) (dm) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year by 25 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year.

(dr) For fiscal year 2013-14 and for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equal to the estimated utility terrain vehicle gas tax payment. The estimated utility terrain vehicle gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the sum of the number of utility terrain vehicles registered for public use under s. 23.33 (2) (c) or (2g) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year by 25 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year.

(e) An amount equal to the amounts expended under s. 20.370 (7) (aq).

(f) Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 5., 7., and 12.

(1m) There is established in the conservation fund a separate account that is designated the snowmobile account and that consists of the moneys paid into the conservation fund under s. 20.855 (4) (t) and the moneys collected under s. 350.12.

(2) License fees and other state moneys collected by each field employee of the department shall be remitted to the department within one month after receipt together with a report of the number of licenses issued and details covering the type and the amount of money remitted.

(3) Funds accruing to the conservation fund from license fees paid by hunters and from sport and recreation fishing license fees shall not 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.

(3m)

(a) The total amount that the department may expend for a given fiscal year from the fish and wildlife account of the conservation fund for administrative costs may not exceed 16 percent of the expenditures from that account for that fiscal year.

(b) For purposes of par. (a), administrative costs consist of the costs incurred in the administration of the department and its divisions and in providing support services for the department.

(4) No money shall be expended or paid from the conservation fund except in pursuance of an appropriation by law.

(4m) No moneys that accrue to the state for or in behalf of the department under ch. 29 or 169 or s. 90.21 may be expended or paid for the enforcement of the treaty-based, off-reservation rights to fish held by members of federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands domiciled in Wisconsin.

(5) A gift or bequest shall be used in accordance with the directions of the donor.

(6) All moneys received from the United States for fire prevention and control, forest planting, and other forestry activities, for wildlife restoration projects and fish restoration and management projects, and for other purposes shall be devoted to the purposes for which these moneys are received.

(7) All moneys received under s. 70.58, and all moneys paid into the state treasury as the counties' share of compensation of emergency fire wardens under s. 26.14 shall be used for acquiring, preserving and developing the forests of the state, including the acquisition of lands owned by counties by virtue of any tax deed and of other lands suitable for state forests, and for the development of lands so acquired and the conduct of forestry thereon, including the growing and planting of trees; for forest and marsh fire prevention and control; for grants to forestry cooperatives under s. 36.56; for compensation of emergency fire wardens; for maintenance, permanent property and forestry improvements; for other forestry purposes authorized by law and for the payment of aid for forests as authorized in s. 28.11 and subchs. I and VI of ch. 77.

(a) Eight percent of the moneys received under s. 70.58 or of the funds provided for in lieu of the levy shall be used to acquire and develop forests of the state for the purposes or capable of providing the benefits described under s. 28.04 (2) within areas approved by the department and the governor and located within the region composed of Manitowoc, Calumet, Winnebago, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, Rock, and Outagamie counties.

(b) An additional 4 percent of the moneys received under s. 70.58 or of the funds provided in lieu of the levy shall be used to purchase forests for the state for the purposes or capable of providing the benefits described under s. 28.04 (2) within areas approved by the department and the governor and located within the region specified under par. (a).

History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 29; 1977 c. 418 ss. 244, 245, 929 (37); 1979 c. 34 ss. 707v, 2102 (39) (a); 1979 c. 221; 1979 c. 361 s. 113; 1983 a. 27 ss. 636m, 637, 2202 (38); 1985 a. 29 ss. 638g, 3202 (39); 1985 a. 135; 1987 a. 27; 1987 a. 312 s. 17; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 257 s. 3; 1997 a. 1, 27, 248; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 56, 105; 2003 a. 166; 2007 a. 204; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 208; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 170; 2017 a. 59.