Chapter 2. Nongame Wildlife and Habitat Preservation Programs
TITLE 7
Conservation
Game, Wildlife and Dogs
CHAPTER 2. NONGAME WILDLIFE AND HABITAT PRESERVATION PROGRAMS
§ 201. Findings.
The General Assembly finds and declares:
(1) It is in the best interest of the State to preserve and enhance the diversity and abundance of nongame fish and wildlife, and to protect the habitat and natural areas harboring rare and vanishing species of fish, wildlife, plants and areas of unusual scientific significance or having unusual importance to the survival of Delaware's native fish, wildlife and plants in their natural environments.
(2) Rare and endangered species are a public trust in need of active, protective management, and that it is in the broad public interest to preserve and enhance such species.
(3) Historically fish and wildlife conservation programs have focused on the more recreationally and commercially important species and consequently, such programs have been financed largely by hunting and fishing license revenues and by the federal assistance based on excise taxes on certain hunting and fishing equipment. These traditional financing mechanisms are neither adequate nor fully appropriate to meet the needs of all fish and wildlife.
(4) It is the policy of the State to enable and encourage taxpayers voluntarily to support nongame fish and wildlife, nongame habitat and natural areas preservation programs, including rare plants protection, through contributions designated on state income tax forms.
64 Del. Laws, c. 151, § 1.;
§ 202. Definitions.
(a) "Nongame" is that fauna, including rare and endangered species, which are not commonly trapped, killed, captured or consumed, either for sport or profit.
(b) "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
64 Del. Laws, c. 151, § 1.;
§ 203. Procedure for contribution; disposition thereof.
Repealed by 73 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 2, eff. July 12, 2001.
§ 204. Preservation Fund.
(a) In order to carry out the purpose of this chapter, there is hereby created a special fund, which shall be known as the Nongame Fish and Wildlife, Nongame Habitat and Natural Areas Preservation Fund of the Treasury of the State.
(b) All moneys received from the voluntary contribution system established in § 1182 of Title 30 shall be deposited in said Fund.
(c) The General Assembly shall make no appropriation into said Fund, but individuals may, from time to time, make contributions or bequests to the Fund.
(d) The moneys contained in said Fund shall be continuously transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for the exclusive purpose of carrying out the objectives of this chapter.
(e) The distribution of moneys among the subdivisions of the Department shall be determined by the Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
(f) The Department shall make an annual report to the General Assembly, which shall include the amount of funding derived from the contributions and a summary of projects undertaken in furtherance of this chapter.
(g) From time to time as determined by the Delaware State Clearinghouse Committee, the Department shall submit a detailed report to members of the Committee of revenues, expenditures and program measures for the fiscal period in question. Such report shall also be sufficiently descriptive in nature so as to be concise and informative. The Committee may cause the Department to appear before the Committee and to answer such questions as the Committee may require.
64 Del. Laws, c. 151, § 1.;