(520 ILCS 5/1.29) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.29)

Sec. 1.29. Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund.

(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury the State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund. All fees collected from the sale of State Migratory Waterfowl Stamps shall be deposited into this Fund. These moneys shall be appropriated to the Department for the following purposes:

(1) 25% of funds derived from the sale of State migratory waterfowl stamps and 100% of all gifts, donations, grants and bequests of money for the conservation and propagation of waterfowl, for projects approved by the Department for the purpose of attracting waterfowl and improving public migratory waterfowl areas within the State, and for payment of the costs of printing State migratory waterfowl stamps, the expenses incurred in acquiring State waterfowl stamp designs and the expenses of producing reprints. These projects may include the repair, maintenance and operation of public migratory waterfowl areas only in emergencies as determined by the State Duck Stamp Committee.

(2) 25% of funds derived from the sale of State migratory waterfowl stamps will be turned over by the Department to appropriate non-profit organizations for the development of waterfowl propagation areas within the Dominion of Canada or the United States that specifically provide waterfowl for the Mississippi Flyway.

(3) 25% of funds derived from the sale of State migratory waterfowl stamps shall be turned over by the Department to appropriate non-profit organizations to be used for the implementation of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. These funds shall be used for the development of waterfowl areas within the Dominion of Canada or the United States that specifically provide waterfowl for the Mississippi Flyway.

(4) 25% of funds derived from the sale of State migratory waterfowl stamps shall be available for use by the Department for internal administrative costs of the Department and for the maintenance of waterfowl habitat, including the replacement, repair, operation, and maintenance of pumps and levees used for water management on public migratory waterfowl areas within the State.

(b) Before turning over any funds under the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) the Department shall obtain evidence that the project is acceptable to the appropriate governmental agency of the Dominion of Canada or the United States or of one of its Provinces or States having jurisdiction over the lands and waters affected by the project, and shall consult those agencies and the State Duck Stamp Committee for approval before allocating funds.

(c) The State Duck Stamp Committee shall consist of: (1) The State Waterfowl Biologist, (2) The Chief of the Wildlife Resources Division or his designee, (3) The Chief of the Land Management Division or his designee, (4) The Chief of the Engineering Division or his designee, and (5) Two or more at large representatives from statewide waterfowl organizations appointed by the Director. The Committee's duties shall be to review and recommend all Duck Stamp Projects and review and recommend all expenditures from the State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund. The committee shall give due consideration to waterfowl projects that are readily available to holders of the State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, wherever they may live in Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 96-831, eff. 1-1-10.)