H936 - Wildlife Poacher Reward Fund

• Establishes the Wildlife Poacher Reward Fund in the Office of the State Treasurer to pay rewards to persons providing information leading to arrest and conviction of wildlife violators.

• Funds the reward program from at least 10% of compensation paid to the Wildlife Resources Commission as probation conditions, reimbursements for rewards paid, and gifts or grants designated for the fund.

• Authorizes courts to require wildlife offense offenders to compensate agencies for rewards paid as a condition of probation.

• Increases penalties for specific wildlife violations including deer ($250 minimum fine), wild turkey ($250 minimum fine), bear ($2,000 minimum fine), and elk ($2,500 minimum fine).

• Amends boating safety laws by increasing fines for vessel operation violations, changing several violations from misdemeanors to infractions, and updating operator licensing requirements to include persons born before January 1, 1988.