A. For the purposes
of this section, the following words or terms shall have the following
meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Individual, cooperators, or wildlife conservation
organizations" means those people or entities whose mission is to promote and
ensure the conservation of Virginia's wildlife resources or to promote
opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, or other
wildlife-related recreation within Virginia.
"Proceeds" means the amount of money received by the
cooperator or organization from the transfer of a reserved special elk hunting
license minus all expenses, including the fees associated with the license, and
administrative costs directly attributable to the transfer of the permit or the
implementation of the defined project.
B. Upon receipt of a valid Conservation
License Program application from an officer or other designated official
representative of any individual, cooperator, or wildlife conservation
organization, the director or the director's designee shall verify the
application materials and may select a program awardee annually. Applications
must be received or postmarked no later than April 1 to be eligible for the
Conservation License Program during that calendar year.
C. A valid Conservation License Program
application shall include:
1. Cooperator or
organization name, name of the individual designated to submit and receive
official correspondence, address for such correspondence, and a telephone
number.
2. Cooperator or
organization mission statement.
3.
A written application describing:
a.
Cooperator or organization role in wildlife conservation in Virginia.
b. Cooperator or organization purpose and
intent for requesting a reserved special elk hunting license through the
Conservation License Program.
c.
Cooperator or organization proposal for method of generating funds from
transfer of the reserved special elk hunting license to an eligible
individual.
d. Cooperator or
organization strategy to direct proceeds received from the transfer of the
reserved special elk hunting license and any matching funding toward wildlife
conservation or wildlife-related recreation in Virginia's Elk Management
Zone.
D. The
director shall establish a Conservation License Program Committee to review
program applications and submit a recommendation to the director to reserve no
more than one special elk hunting license for a cooperator or organization
whose application is deemed to provide the greatest benefit to wildlife
conservation and wildlife-related recreation in Virginia per license year. This
committee shall be composed of a minimum of three individuals and make a
recommendation to the director by May 1 each year.
E. A cooperator or organization receiving a
reserved special elk hunting license must direct all proceeds from the transfer
of such reservation, toward a project to improve and enhance wildlife habitat,
wildlife populations, or wildlife-related recreation within the Elk Management
Zone. The proposed strategy and requirements will be outlined in a memorandum
of agreement between the department and the cooperator or
organization.
F. A cooperator or
organization may transfer the reserved special elk hunting license to any
person eligible to hunt in Virginia. The generation of funds from the transfer
of the reserved special elk hunting license may only be conducted through a
raffle.
G. Transfer of the reserved
special elk hunting license must be reported to the department no less than one
month prior to the opening day of the elk hunting season during which the
special elk hunting license is valid. To report a transfer to the department,
the cooperator or organization shall provide the department with the hunter's:
1. Name;
2. Department customer identification
number;
3. Address; and
4. Telephone number.
H. A special elk hunting license transferee
may be rejected if it is determined that the transferee has been convicted of
two or more wildlife violations within three years prior to the last date of
the application period. In determining the transferee's eligibility, the
director shall take into account the nature and severity of the
violations.
I. A cooperator or
organization that receives a reserved special elk hunting license shall submit
an annual report to the department regarding any proceeds received from the
transfer of the reserved license and an accounting of how those funds were
directed toward wildlife conservation or wildlife-related recreation in the Elk
Management Zone.
