32-970. Commission permits to take big game; issuance. (a) The commission may authorize commission permits to take big game. Such permits shall be made available only to local chapters of nonprofit organizations based or operating in Kansas that actively promote wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage. Organizations that oppose hunting and fishing shall not be eligible for award of a commission permit.

(b) The issuance of commission permits shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) Not more than one permit allowing the taking of an antelope shall be issued in a calendar year;

(2) not more than one permit allowing the taking of an elk shall be issued in a calendar year;

(3) any deer permits may comprise the entire allotment or the balance of the total quota if permits for other species are issued;

(4) a total of not more than seven commission permits shall be available in one calendar year; and

(5) commission permits shall not be included in nor reduce any limited quota permit allotments set by other rules and regulations of the secretary.

(c) Not more than one commission permit may be issued to an organization, but this limitation shall not preclude individual chapters of the same organization from being issued permits.

(d) Organizations receiving commission permits shall market the permit to the public in order to receive the maximum financial benefit available for the organization and the department.

(e) Application requests by qualified organizations shall be submitted to any member of the commission and shall be provided to the commission as a whole.

(f) The commission shall conduct a random drawing from the pool of eligible qualified organizations to award commission permits, subject to the approval of the secretary.

(g) Organizations shall not be eligible to receive a commission permit more than once in a three-year period.

(h) Organizations awarded commission permits shall pay to the department the price established by rules and regulations for the highest value for the type of permit awarded. No other compensation shall be provided to the commission or the department with regard to issuance of a commission permit. The balance of the sale price for the permit shall be retained by the organization. If the organization is Kansas hunters feeding the hungry, inc., not less than 15% of the amount retained by the organization shall be used to supplement department sponsored or approved projects. For any other organization, not less than 85% shall be used to supplement department sponsored or approved projects.

(i) Limitations established by law or by rules and regulations adopted by the secretary pursuant to K.S.A. 32-807, and amendments thereto, relating to the ability to receive a same species permit in the future shall apply to the final recipient of the commission permit.

(j) Commission permits shall only be issued in the name of the final recipient. Once a commission permit is issued in the name of the final recipient, it shall not be transferred to any other individual.

(k) Any commission permit shall be subject to the restrictions of the season, sex, equipment type or hunt units as issued on the permit by the department.

(l) The secretary may adopt, in accordance with K.S.A. 32-805, and amendments thereto, such rules and regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

History: L. 2005, ch. 99, § 1; L. 2007, ch. 143, § 1; L. 2008, ch. 50, § 1; Apr. 10.