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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
HOUSE BILL 1768 By: Roberts (Eric) and Waldron
of the House
and
Jett of the Senate
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to game and fish; amend ing 29 O.S.
2011, Section 3-310, as last amended by Section 1,
Chapter 277, O.S.L. 2017 (29 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section
3-310), which relates to the Wildlife Diversity
Program; extending certain income tax checkoff; and
providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 29 O.S. 2011, Section 3 -310, as
last amended by Section 1, Chapter 277, O.S.L. 2017 (29 O.S. Supp.
2020, Section 3-310), is amended to read as follows:
Section 3-310. A. The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall include on
each state individual income tax return form for tax years beginning
after December 31, 2001, and each state corporate tax return form
for tax years beginning after December 31, 2001, an opportunit y for
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the taxpayer to donate from a tax refund for the benefit of the
Oklahoma Wildlife Diversity Program.
B. For purposes of this section, "nongame wildlife" means any
species of wildlife not legally classified as a game species or
furbearer by statute o r by rule adopted pursuant to statute.
C. Except as otherwise provided for in this section, all monies
generated pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be paid to
the State Treasurer and placed to the credit of the Wildlife
Diversity Fund.
D. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission to be
designated the "Wildlife Diversity Fund ". The fund shall be a
continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall
consist of all monies received under the provisions of subsection C
of this section by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission is hereby authorized
to invest all or part of the monies of said fund in any investme nt
permitted by a written investment policy adopted by the Wildlife
Conservation Commission; provided, all investments shall be made in
accordance with the Oklahoma Uniform Prudent Investor Act. Any
interest or dividends accruing from such investments sha ll be
deposited in the Wildlife Diversity Fund. All monies accruing to
the credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted
and expended by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission for
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the purpose of preserving, protecting, perpetuatin g and enhancing
nongame wildlife in this state. Any monies withdrawn from said fund
by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission for investment
pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be for the purpose of
preserving, protecting, perpetuating and enhancing nongame wildlife
in this state. Expenditures from said fund shall be made upon
warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as
prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services for approval an d payment.
E. If a taxpayer makes a donation pursuant to subsection A of
this section in error, such taxpayer may file a claim for refund at
any time within three (3) years from the due date of the tax return.
Such claims shall be filed pursuant to the p rovisions of Section
2373 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes and, if allowed, shall be
paid pursuant to the provisions of said section. Prior to the
apportionment set forth in subsection C of this section, an amount
equal to the total amount of refunds made pursuant to this
subsection during any one (1) year shall be deducted from the total
donations received pursuant to this section during the following
year and such amount deducted shall be paid to the State Treasurer
and placed to the credit of the In come Tax Withholding Refund
Account.
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F. Pursuant to Section 2368.18 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma
Statutes, the income tax checkoff contained in this section is
hereby reauthorized effective January 1, 2018 2022.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AND BUDGET, dated
02/22/2021 - DO PASS, As Coauthored.