Endangered Species - Funding Provisions - South Carolina

(A) The State Treasurer shall credit the total amount transferred by the South Carolina Department of Revenue pursuant to Section 12-6-5060 to the Nongame Wildlife and Natural Areas Fund established in this section.

(B) There is established a special fund to be known as the “Nongame Wildlife and Natural Areas Fund” consisting of all monies transferred to it under this section, donations to the Nongame and Endangered Species or Heritage Trust Programs of the department, and all interest earned in the fund.

(C) All balances in the Nongame Wildlife and Natural Areas Fund must be carried forward each year so that no part of the fund reverts to the general fund of the State.

(D) The department may expend monies held in the Nongame Wildlife and Natural Areas Fund in furtherance of its Nongame and Endangered Species Programs, Heritage Trust Programs, and for related educational projects and programs.

(E) Revenues produced pursuant to Section 12-6-5060 are supplemental and are in no way intended to take the place of funding that would otherwise be appropriated for these purposes.

Citation: Code 1976 § 50-1-280.

(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall issue a series of special commemorative motor vehicle license plates for use by the owner on his private passenger motor vehicle for the purposes of the “Nongame Wildlife and Natural Areas Fund” provided in Section 50-1-280. The special fee for the commemorative license plate is thirty dollars and this amount must be placed in the fund. This fee is in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3 of Title 56. The commemorative plate must be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates and must be imprinted with the words “South Carolina Protects Endangered Species”. The plates must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period, which expires twenty-four months from the month they are issued. Once the plate supply is exhausted, any revenues derived from a renewal or transfer of a “South Carolina Protects Endangered Species” plate must be distributed as directed in this subsection.

(B) The department shall issue a collection of special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger carrying motor vehicles and motorcycles. The fee for each special license plate is thirty dollars every two years in addition to the regular motor vehicle license fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title. Each special license plate must be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates, and must be imprinted with the words “South Carolina Wildlife”. Each special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month the special license plate is issued.

(C) Of the fees collected pursuant to this section, the Comptroller General shall place into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167, an amount equal to the expenses of the department in producing and administering this special license plate collection. The remaining funds collected from each special motor vehicle license plate fee must be deposited in the Game Protection Fund provided for in Title 50.

(D) The department simultaneously may make available more than one special license plate. However, before the department produces and distributes a special license plate with the South Carolina Wildlife collection pursuant to this section, it must comply with the provisions contained in Section 56-3-8100.

Citation: Code 1976 § 56-3-4510.

There is created the Legacy Trust Fund which shall consist of all monies appropriated or transferred to it, all donations, matching funds, and all interest earned on such monies which shall be retained in the fund and used for its stated purposes. The revenues from the Legacy Trust Fund may be matched by public funds, private funds, in-kind contributions, and other funding sources. The title to land as an in-kind contribution must be in fee or as an easement to a governmental or nonprofit entity. The Legacy Trust Fund shall make available funds to acquire sensitive ecological resources and to preserve and renovate or restore historic sites. The funds shall further be used for the development of existing and future state parks and Heritage Preserves and to protect habitat for plant and animal species considered endangered by the Department of Natural Resources and to acquire or develop, or both, resource-based recreational projects and facilities within the State.

Citation: Code 1976 § 51-22-20.