The State of West Virginia hereby assents to the provisions of the act of Congress entitled, “An act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in fish restoration and management projects and for other purposes,” (Public Law number six hundred eighty-one, eighty-first Congress), and the director is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to perform such acts as may be necessary to the conduct and establishment of fish restoration and management projects as defined in said act of Congress, in compliance with said act and with rules and regulations promulgated by the secretary of the interior thereunder. Funds accruing to the State from license fees paid by fishermen shall not be diverted for any purposes other than those stated in section thirty-four, article two of this chapter. Fees, moneys, interest or funds arising from the sales of all permits and licenses to hunt, trap, fish or otherwise hold or capture fish and wildlife resources and money reimbursed and granted by the federal government for fish and wildlife conservation shall be expended solely for the conservation, restoration, management, educational benefit, recreational use and scientific study of the state's fish and wildlife, including the purchases or other acquisition of property for said purposes and for the administration of the laws pertaining thereto and for no other purposes. In the event that any such properties or facilities are converted to uses other than those specified in this section and the conversion jeopardizes the availability of the receipt of federal funds by the state, the agency of the state responsible for the conservation of its fish and wildlife resources shall receive fair market compensation for the converted properties or facilities. Such compensation shall be expended only for the purposes specified in this section. All moneys shall be deposited within the state treasurer in the “license fund” and other specific funds created especially for fish and wildlife conservation and the public's use of fish and wildlife. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Legislature from reducing or increasing the amount of any permit or license to hunt, trap, fish or otherwise hold or capture fish or wildlife or to repeal or enact additional fees or requirements for the privilege of hunting, trapping, fishing or to otherwise hold or capture fish or wildlife.
Citation: W. Va. Const. art. VI, § 55