Sec. 4. (a) As used in this section, “account” means the Indiana sportsmen’s benevolence account established by subsection (b).

     (b) The Indiana sportsmen’s benevolence account is established within the fund for the division of law enforcement to encourage citizen participation in feeding the state’s hungry through donations of wild game that has been lawfully hunted.

     (c) The account consists of:

(1) gifts;

(2) donations;

(3) proceeds derived from marketing by the division of law enforcement of goods related to the feeding of the state’s hungry through donations of wild game under subsection (b); and

(4) donations collected under IC 14-22-12-1(c).

     (d) The expenses of administering the account shall be paid from money in the account.

     (e) The division of law enforcement shall:

(1) conduct a publicity campaign relating to feeding the state’s hungry through donations of wild game;

(2) coordinate with nonprofit entities and other entities created with goals of feeding the state’s hungry;

(3) coordinate with nonprofit entities to use the money collected under IC 14-22-12-1(c) to assist meat processors in processing donations of wild game related to feeding the state’s hungry; and

(4) engage in any other activities to further the goals of this section.

     (f) A person who receives money from the fund must submit a budget request for providing estimated payments to participating meat processors for the number of donated wild game animals to be included in the program. The division of law enforcement must certify the information on the application and determine:

(1) whether the participating meat processor may receive a grant; and

(2) the amount of the grant each participating meat processor may receive under this section.

     (g) An eligible meat processor may use money granted to the meat processor from the account as authorized under this section. However, an eligible meat processor must submit to the division of law enforcement any information that is requested of the meat processor. At the request of the division of law enforcement or the state board of accounts, the eligible meat processor shall submit to an audit of the funds received.

     (h) The division of law enforcement shall make grant distributions under this section to eligible meat processors as soon as practical after receipt of an approved invoice for payment.

     (i) The department shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter, including rules governing:

(1) the deadlines for applying for a grant under this section;

(2) the types of expenses incurred for which grant money may be used; and

(3) any expense documentation required to satisfy program accounting needs.

     (j) Money in the account is annually appropriated for the purposes described in this section.

     (k) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the account not currently needed to meet the obligations of the account in the same manner as other public money may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the account.

     (l) Money in the account at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.

As added by P.L.66-2008, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.46-2010, SEC.1; P.L.124-2013, SEC.1; P.L.2-2014, SEC.75.