Originally Posted By: jfish1981
Are the proceeds still going to the general fund? If so that's what we really need to get changed. I would gladly pay double if I knew the money was going somewhere useful.


No. Last years' debacle has been corrected.

From the summary:
The bill requires that funds accruing from any permit, tag, or stamp fees, excluding the migratory bird conservation stamp and fees paid by trappers and anglers, fund the programs and functions of the Bureau of Natural Resources within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) according to federal regulations. It also requires the DEP to submit an annual report to the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, detailing the funds raised, expenses, and spending purposes of sportsman's fees and stamps.

Current law states that Connecticut assents to the provisions of the congressional acts entitled “Pitman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act” and “Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act,” which provide that no funds accruing to the state from license fees paid by fishermen or hunting licenses shall be diverted for any other purpose than the protection, propagation, preservation and investigation of fish and game and administration of the functions of the related department. The bill includes funds accruing from any permit, tag, or stamp fees, excluding the migratory bird conservation stamp and fees paid by trappers and anglers; real or personal property acquired with a license, permit, tag, and stamp fees; and interest, dividends, or other income earned from the license, permit, tag, and stamp fees. The bill requires the fees to fund the programs and functions of the Bureau of Natural Resources within DEP according to federal regulations.

The bill requires the DEP to submit, by October 1, an annual report to the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program chief, within the Fish and Wildlife Service of the federal Department of the Interior. The report must include, for the year ending June 30, the (1) total license, permit, stamp, and tag fees paid by hunters, trappers, and anglers, excluding the Connecticut Migratory Bird Stamp, and any interest, dividends, and sale or lease payments from assets purchased with license, permit, stamp, and tag revenues; (2) amounts expended on fish and wildlife programs; and (3) purposes for the spent funds. The report must also include the total expenditures amounts for (1) protection, propagation, preservation, and investigation of fish and game; (2) operation, administration, and maintenance of fish and wildlife facilities; (3) operation and administration of wildlife management areas, fish and wildlife access areas, and angler and hunter education and outreach programs; (4) restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitats; and (5) administration of fish and wildlife technical assistance programs.