(a)

All fines assessed against and collected from persons convicted for infractions of any of the state laws protecting game, fish, fur-bearing animals, or fresh water mussels shall be paid to the county treasurer or the municipal court clerk of the county wherein the fine is assessed and forwarded, as provided, to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission.

(b)

(1)

The county treasurer or municipal court clerk shall give his or her receipt to any person paying the fine or to any officer of the court making settlement of fines collected.

(2)

(A)

At the end of each four (4) months, in April, August, and December, county treasurers or municipal court clerks shall file a report and forward all fines collected under the provisions of this chapter to the commission.

(B)

The report, filed on forms provided by the commission, shall include: 

(i)

The name of each defendant;

(ii)

The court case number;

(iii)

The name of the arresting officer; and 

(iv)

The amount of the fine. 

(c)

The commission shall, upon receipt thereof, deposit the same with the Treasurer of State who shall deposit the moneys as special revenues in the Game Protection Fund. 

(d)

All or any portion of the fine moneys deposited as special revenues in the fund may be expended by the commission in the form of grants issued to the Department of Education for fish and wildlife conservation education and other purposes consistent with Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 35.

(e)

(1)

The commission shall file a written report no later than October 1 of each even-numbered year with the Legislative Council and the Joint Budget Committee indicating the amount of fines deposited into the fund during the prior two (2) fiscal years and the amount of those funds transferred to the department under subsection (d) of this section.

(2)

If all of the fine moneys were not transferred to the department, the commission shall include in its report an explanation as to why all funds were not transferred.

A.C.A. 6-16-1101. Fish and wildlife conservation education

(a)

The Department of Education, in consultation with the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, shall establish school education programs for fish and wildlife conservation and other purposes consistent with Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 35.

(b)

The conservation education programs may include, but not be limited to, the study of general fish and wildlife conservation issues, hunter education training, fishing education training, boating education training, wildlife habitat development, Project WILD, and the Hooked on Fishing - Not on Drugs Program. 

(c)

(1)

The department shall distribute quarterly all grant moneys provided by the commission under 15-41-209  to the counties where the offenses occurred.

(2)

The counties shall distribute quarterly in the manner prescribed by ordinance of the county quorum courts all of the funds provided by the commission under 15-41-209  for fish and wildlife conservation education and other purposes consistent with Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 35, to the school districts or conservation districts, or both, for the sole purpose of approved conservation education programs within the counties.