(1) The Fish and Wildlife Account is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. All moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the State Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Fish and Wildlife Account shall consist of the moneys in its various subaccounts and any moneys transferred to the account by the Legislative Assembly. Unless otherwise specified by law, interest earnings on moneys in the account shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the State Wildlife Fund.

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(2)(a) The Fish Screening Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account. The subaccount shall consist of:

(A) All penalties recovered under ORS § 536.900 to 536.920.

(B) All moneys received pursuant to ORS § 498.306.

(C) All gifts, grants and other moneys from whatever source that may be used to carry out the provisions of ORS § 498.306.

(D) All moneys received from the sale of angling licenses dedicated by ORS § 497.124.

(b) All moneys in the subaccount shall be used to carry out the provisions of ORS § 315.138, 498.306 and 509.620. However, moneys received from the sale of angling licenses dedicated by ORS § 497.124 shall be expended only to carry out the provisions of law relating to the screening of water diversions.

(3) The Fish Endowment Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account. The subaccount shall consist of transfers of moneys authorized by the Legislative Assembly from the State Wildlife Fund and gifts and grants of moneys from whatever source for the purpose of paying the expense of maintaining fish hatcheries operated by the department.

(4) The Migratory Waterfowl Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account. All moneys received by the commission from the sale of art works and prints related to the migratory waterfowl stamps shall be deposited in the subaccount. Moneys in the subaccount may be expended only for activities that promote the propagation, conservation and recreational uses of migratory waterfowl and for activities related to the design, production, issuance and arrangements for sale of the migratory waterfowl stamps and related art works and prints. Expenditures of moneys in the subaccount may be made within this state, in other states or in foreign countries, in such amounts as the commission determines appropriate. Expenditures in other states and foreign countries shall be on such terms and conditions as the commission determines will benefit most directly the migratory waterfowl resources of this state.

(5) The Halibut Research Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account. Based on the annual number of recreational halibut anglers, a portion of the moneys derived from the sale of the salmon, steelhead trout, sturgeon and halibut tag pursuant to ORS § 497.121 shall be credited to the subaccount. Moneys in the subaccount may be expended only for halibut population studies and other research.

(6) The Upland Bird Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account. All moneys received by the State Fish and Wildlife Commission from the sale of upland bird stamps, from the sale of any art works and prints related to the upland bird stamps and from private hunting preserve permit fees shall be deposited in the subaccount. Moneys in the subaccount may be expended only for promoting the propagation and conservation of upland birds and the acquisition, development, management, enhancement, sale or exchange of upland bird habitat, and for activities related to the design, production, issuance and arrangements for sale of the upland bird stamps and related art works and prints. Expenditures of moneys in the subaccount shall be made for the benefit of programs within this state in such amounts and at such times as the commission determines appropriate to most directly benefit the upland bird resources of the state.

(7) The Access and Habitat Board Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account. The subaccount shall consist of moneys transferred to the subaccount pursuant to ORS § 496.242. Moneys in the subaccount may be used for the purposes specified in ORS § 496.242.

(8) The Marine Shellfish Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account. Interest earnings on moneys in the subaccount shall be credited to the subaccount. All moneys received by the commission from the sale of resident and nonresident shellfish licenses pursuant to ORS § 497.121 shall be deposited in the subaccount. Moneys in the subaccount shall be used for the protection and enhancement of shellfish for recreational purposes, including shellfish sanitation costs and the cost of enforcement of wildlife laws pertaining to the taking of shellfish. The State Fish and Wildlife Director, or a designee, the Director of Agriculture, or a designee, and the Superintendent of State Police, or a designee, shall jointly make a recommendation to the Governor for inclusion in the Governor’s budget beginning July 1 of each odd-numbered year.

(9)(a) The Mountain Sheep Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account, consisting of moneys collected under ORS § 497.112 (2)(a) to (c).

(b) All moneys in the subaccount shall be used for the propagation and conservation of mountain sheep, for research, development, management, enhancement and sale or exchange of mountain sheep habitat and for programs within the state that in the discretion of the commission most directly benefit mountain sheep resources of this state.

(10)(a) The Antelope Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account, consisting of moneys collected under ORS § 497.112 (2)(a) to (c).

(b) All moneys in the subaccount shall be used for the propagation and conservation of antelope, for research, development, management, enhancement and sale or exchange of antelope habitat and for programs within the state that in the discretion of the commission most directly benefit antelope resources of this state.

(11)(a) The Mountain Goat Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account, consisting of moneys collected under ORS § 497.112 (2)(a) to (c).

(b) All moneys in the subaccount shall be used for the propagation and conservation of mountain goats for research, development, management, enhancement and sale or exchange of mountain goat habitat and for programs within the state that in the discretion of the commission most directly benefit mountain goat resources of this state.

(12) The commission shall keep a record of all moneys deposited in the Fish and Wildlife Account. The record shall indicate by separate cumulative accounts the sources from which the moneys are derived and the individual activity or programs against which each withdrawal is charged.

(13) The Oregon Conservation Strategy Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account. All moneys received by the commission from the sale of habitat conservation stamps and from the sale of any art works and prints related to the habitat conservation stamp shall be deposited in the subaccount. Moneys in the subaccount may be expended only to promote and implement habitat and species restoration, enhancement and viewing activities identified in the ‘Oregon Conservation Strategy,’ 2006, by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, and for activities related to the design, production, issuance and arrangements for sale of the habitat conservation stamps and related art works and prints.

(14)(a) The Rogue-South Coast Research and Monitoring Subaccount is established in the Fish and Wildlife Account, consisting of moneys collected under ORS § 497.121 (1)(r) and (s).

(b) All moneys in the subaccount shall be used for research and monitoring that is consistent with the Rogue-South Coast Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan the commission adopted in December 2021, as subsequently amended by the commission.

(c) The commission may amend the plan as needed.

(d) The commission shall make the current version of the plan publicly available on a website of the commission or of the State Department of Fish and Wildlife. [2001 c.822 § 3; 2003 c.612 § 2; 2003 c.656 § 12; 2007 c.625 3,14; 2011 c.50 3,4; 2011 c.730 § 18b; 2015 c.546 § 2; 2015 c.779 § 44; 2022 c.56 § 8]

496.303 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS Chapter 496 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

[Amended by 1959 c.692 § 6; 1971 c.446 § 1; repealed by 1973 c.723 § 130]