Endangered Species - Funding Provisions - Massachusetts

...(e) All fines and assessments received on account of litigation or settlement thereof for a violation of this chapter or the regulations promulgated thereunder shall be paid to the commonwealth and shall be deposited into the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Fund established pursuant to section 35D of chapter 10 for the purpose of aiding in the protection and enhancement of rare, threatened and endangered species in the commonwealth.

Citation: M.G.L.A. 131A § 6.

There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund, for nongame wildlife programs in the commonwealth. Said fund shall consist of all revenues received by the commonwealth and credits:

(1) under the provisions of section six D of chapter sixty-two and section thirty-eight L of chapter sixty-three;

(2) from public and private sources as gifts, grants, and donations to further nongame wildlife programs; 

(3) from the federal government as reimbursements, grants-in-aid or other receipts on account of the division of fisheries and wildlife nongame activities; or

(4) fines and penalties received on account of litigation or settlement thereof for a violation of chapter one hundred and thirty-one A or the regulations promulgated thereunder.

All revenues credited under this section shall remain in said Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund: to acquire by purchase, lease, easement or license land or interests therein critical to nongame wildlife and endangered species for the multiple purposes of protecting and enhancing nongame wildlife and encouraging compatible wildlife uses; to manage, inventory, preserve, protect, perpetuate, and enhance nongame wildlife in the commonwealth; and to supplement funds provided to the natural heritage program for the inventory of nongame wildlife and endangered species. The state treasurer shall not deposit said revenues in or transfer said revenues to the General Fund or any other fund other than the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund.

The state treasurer shall receive and deposit all revenues transmitted to him under the provisions of this section in such manner that will ensure the highest rate of interest available consistent with the safety of the fund, and in an account from which amounts may be withdrawn at any time without penalty for such withdrawal, all interest accrued shall be deposited into the fund.

Citation: M.G.L.A. 10 § 35D.

The director may establish fees for environmental review and assessment pursuant to this chapter, the amount of which shall be determined in accordance with section 3B of chapter 7. Monies received by the commonwealth from fees collected under this chapter shall be credited to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund, established by section 35D of chapter 10.

Citation: M.G.L.A. 131A § 7.

Every corporation that files a return may voluntarily contribute all or part of any refund to which it is entitled or may voluntarily add an amount onto any amount due to be credited to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund. At the beginning of each fiscal year, one dollar shall be credited from the General Fund to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund for each dollar contributed by corporations to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund in the prior fiscal year under the provisions of this section. The commissioner of the department of revenue shall certify to the state comptroller total revenues contributed by the corporations in the prior fiscal year.

A contribution made under this section may be made with respect to any taxable year at the time of filing the return of the tax imposed by this chapter for such taxable year; provided, however, that the commissioner shall prescribe the manner in which such contribution shall be made on the face of the return required by section five of chapter sixty-two C.

The commissioner shall annually report the total amount designated under this section to the state treasurer who shall credit such amount, plus accrued interest, to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund.

Citation: M.G.L.A. 63 § 38L.

Monies received by the commonwealth from license fees, permit fees and from any and all sources pertaining to inland fishing, hunting and trapping from permit fees under section 22A, from any sale authorized in section 6 and sums received by the commonwealth from the federal government as reimbursement, grants in aid or other receipts on account of activities of the division, shall be credited on the books of the commonwealth to a fund to be known as the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund except that sums received for natural heritage and endangered species programs shall be credited to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund, established in section 35D of chapter 10; provided, however, that $1 from the sale of each sporting, fishing, trapping and hunting license shall be credited to the wildland acquisition account established in section 2A. All unexpended balances remaining in the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund at the end of each fiscal year shall be appropriated only for the purposes of developing, maintaining, managing, operating and administering the division of fisheries and wildlife. The fund, subject to appropriation, shall be used only as follows:-...

(11) for the acquisition, by purchase, lease, easement or license, of land or interests therein critical to nongame wildlife and endangered species for the multiple purposes of protecting and enhancing nongame wildlife and encouraging compatible wildlife uses;

(12) for the management, inventory, preservation, protection, perpetuation, and enhancement of nongame wildlife and endangered species in the commonwealth;

(13) for supplementing funds provided to the natural heritage and endangered species program for the purpose of aiding in the protection of rare, threatened and endangered species in the commonwealth...

Citation: M.G.L.A. 131 § 2C.