(520 ILCS 5/1.31) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.31)

Sec. 1.31. Pheasant Fund. There is created in the State Treasury the State Pheasant Fund. All interest earned on monies in this Fund shall remain in the fund.

(a) Thirty percent of the money collected from the sale of State Habitat Stamps, and all interest earned, gifts, donations, grants, and bequests of money for the conservation of wild pheasants shall be deposited into the State Pheasant Fund for appropriation to the Department for the following purposes:

(1) 50% of funds derived from the sale of State Habitat Stamps and deposited into the State Pheasant Fund, and all interest earned, gifts, donations, grants and bequests of money for the conservation of wild pheasants shall be used by the Department for the conservation of wild pheasants. Before allocating any funds under the provisions of this subsection, the Department shall submit plans for use of the funds to the State Pheasant Committee for its approval. Pheasant conservation projects may include land acquisition, pheasant habitat improvement on public or private land, pheasant research, and education of the public regarding pheasants and pheasant hunting. None of the monies spent under this Section shall be used for administrative expenses.

(2) 50% of funds derived from the sale of State Habitat Stamps and deposited into the Pheasant Fund shall be allocated by the Department to appropriate not-for-profit organizations for the purpose of wild pheasant conservation. Before allocating any funds under the provisions of this paragraph (2), the Department shall submit the organizations' plans for use of the funds to the State Pheasant Committee for its approval. By December 31 of each year, any organization receiving funds under this paragraph (2) shall report to the Department and the Committee on its use of those funds. Pheasant conservation projects may include land acquisition, pheasant habitat improvement on public or private land, pheasant research, or education of the public regarding pheasants and pheasant hunting.

(b) The State Pheasant Committee is created and shall consist of: (1) the Chief of the Wildlife Resources Division or his designee, (2) the Chief of the Land Management Division or his designee, (3) one representative appointed by the Director who is from a nonprofit institution, corporation, or university within the State and is actively engaged in wildlife research pertaining to game birds, especially pheasants, (4) the Chief of the Technical Services Division or his designee, and (5) 2 or more representatives from statewide pheasant organizations, appointed by the Director. The Committee shall review and recommend all allocation of funds from the State Pheasant Fund.

(c) At the end of each license accounting period, if 30% of the money collected from the sale of State Habitat Stamps and deposited into the State Pheasant Fund is less than $500,000, the Director shall request a transfer and the State Comptroller and State Treasurer shall transfer from the Illinois Habitat Fund to the State Pheasant Fund the amount necessary to bring the total deposited into the State Pheasant Fund to $500,000.

(Source: P.A. 86-158; 86-1028; 87-135; 87-1015.)