Renew And Expand Tax Check-off To Benefit Wildlife

With respect to the nongame and endangered wildlife tax check-off, which is scheduled to sunset in 2018, the bill:

• Expands and renames the check-off as the Colorado nongame conservation and wildlife restoration voluntary contribution program (check-off) for the purpose of benefiting all wildlife in Colorado;
• Extends the future repeal date of the check-off by 5 years;
• Specifies that the voluntary contribution moneys allocated to the division of parks and wildlife (division) in the department of natural resources (i.e., 90% of the first $250,000 and $75% of the moneys over that initial $250,000 in contributions per year) will continue to be used by the division for the protection and perpetuation of nongame and endangered wildlife;
• Provides that the remainder of the moneys received through the check-off (i.e., 10% of the first $250,000 received and 25% of the moneys above $250,000 contributed each year) will be used to make grants for wildlife rehabilitation in the state;
• For the facilitation of the wildlife rehabilitation grant program, creates the Colorado nongame conservation and wildlife restoration cash fund (fund) authority that is overseen by a seven-member board of directors (board);
• Describes the process by which the board makes recommendations to the division for authorizing grants to rehabilitators and requires the board to develop guidelines for processing and evaluating grant applications; and
• Specifies that the board is subject to open records and open meetings laws.

Sections 3 and 4 make conforming amendments necessitated by the change of the name of the fund.

To implement the bill, section 5 makes an appropriation of $2,200 for the 2017-18 fiscal year from the fund to the department of revenue.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)