Bill > H934

This bill establishes two separate special revenue funds within the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife: the MassWildlife Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Mitigation and Enhancement Fund and the Natural Heritage Mitigation Fund. The first fund will receive revenues from permits, licenses, agreements, and other sources specifically related to inland fish and wildlife resources, and can be used to protect, mitigate damages to, study, and enhance these resources. The second fund focuses on mitigating adverse impacts to endangered, threatened, and special concern species, with money coming from conservation permits, settlements, and other designated sources, and can be used for habitat management, research, and land protection. Both funds are non-budgeted, meaning they operate outside the standard state budget process, and any unspent money at the end of a fiscal year remains in the fund for future use. The state treasurer will manage these funds to earn the highest possible interest rate, and the funds cannot be transferred to the general fund or used for operating expenses. These funds provide dedicated financial resources for wildlife conservation and environmental protection efforts in Massachusetts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H934