Bill No.:         SF0082                                               Drafter: IDS

LSO No.:       14LSO-0278                                     Effective Date: Immediate

Enrolled Act No.:    SEA0026

Chapter No.:                        CH0029

Prime Sponsor:       Select Natural Resource Funding Committee

Catch Title:              2014 large project funding.

Subject:                     Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Funding Act

Summary/Major Elements:

· All projects with a cumulative total grant from the Wildlife and Natural Resource Act in excess of $200,000.00 must be approved by the Legislature.

· This act approves 11 new projects for funding under the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Funding Act.

· The act also amends one prior project (9-15-201 – Bates Creek Watershed Restoration) to reflect additional monies granted to the project.

· The act requires that the state of Wyoming be included as a third party beneficiary in any conservation easement entered pursuant to the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Funding Act.  This act requires that the state be given the right to enforce the terms of the conservation easements and recoup the state’s pro-rata share of funds provided for the creation of the easements.

· Before any funds can be distributed to any project, the persons receiving the funds must certify that no gratuities or kickbacks have been made in connection with the project’s funding.

· The new projects approved for funding are:

· Rim Ranch Conservation Easement

· Yellowtail Fire Rehabilitation

· Yellowstone Lake II

· Wapiti Ridge Conservation Easement

· Stateline Pike

· Croonberg Ranch Conservation Easement

· Platte River Casper II

· Table Mountain Water II

· Wyoming Range Mule Deer Habitat

· Harmony Diversion

· Purple Sage Ranch Conservation Easement