AN ACT to direct the wildlife resources commission to issue two elk conservation licenses by auction and raffle.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue one Elk Conservation License by auction and one Elk Conservation License by raffle as provided in this section. An Elk Conservation License shall authorize the licensee to take one male branch antlered elk during the season for taking elk by hunting in the year this act becomes effective, pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission. The licensee shall report the kill to the Commission. An Elk Conservation License obtained by auction or raffle is nontransferable and may not be resold or reassigned.

SECTION 1.(b)  The Commission shall conduct a raffle for one Elk Conservation License.

SECTION 1.(c)  The Commission shall authorize a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization to conduct an auction for one Elk Conservation License. Notwithstanding Article 3 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes or any other provision of law, the Commission may contract with a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization to conduct the auction. The nonprofit wildlife conservation organization selected by the Commission pursuant to this section must be the largest organization in the State dedicated to promoting hunting, fishing, and the outdoors to youth. The nonprofit wildlife conservation organization shall retain forty percent (40%) of the proceeds of the auction for an Elk Conservation License. The remaining proceeds from the auction shall be deposited in the Wildlife Fund and used for the conservation and management of elk. The Commission may retain the actual costs of administering the raffle for an Elk Conservation License. The remaining proceeds from the raffle shall be deposited in the Wildlife Fund and used for the conservation and management of elk. These funds shall supplement, rather than replace, other funds budgeted for management of elk.

SECTION 1.(d)  The Commission shall adopt rules for the use of the Elk Conservation License. The Commission shall also adopt rules to prescribe the method of making the report and the content of the report and to require positive identification of the carcass of the kill, by tagging or otherwise.

SECTION 1.(e)  No later than March 1, 2022, the Commission shall submit to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the Fiscal Research Division a report on the effectiveness of the auction and raffle programs, including how much money was raised, recommendations as to whether to continue the programs, and if so, legislative recommendations to improve the programs.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.