HB 12-1349: Species Conservation Trust Fund

• Authorizes expenditure of $4,000,000 from the species conservation trust fund in fiscal year 2012-13 for native species conservation programs including endangered fish recovery, wildlife conservation, and natural areas protection.

• Modifies the species conservation trust fund structure by eliminating separate operation and maintenance and capital accounts and consolidating all previously allocated revenues into a single fund.

• Increases severance tax trust fund transfers to the species conservation fund to $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2012-13 and $6,600,000 for fiscal year 2013-14.

• Repeals previous severance tax allocation requirements for fiscal years 2010-2014 that had directed $8,000,000, $3,000,000, and $4,500,000 annually to the species conservation fund's capital account.

• Removes funding for the Arkansas Darter Instream Flow Water Rights Lease ($500,000) from the 2011-12 allocation and reduces the total 2011-12 capital authorization from $4,500,000 to $4,000,000.