3-913

3-913. Fiscal provisions; fees; Arizona protected native plant fund

A. The department shall collect nonrefundable fees for issuing permits, tags, seals and receipts under this article, except for scientific purposes, from landowners moving protected plants from one of their properties to another, or from the independent owner of residential property of ten acres or less if no such plants are to be offered for sale.

B. The director shall establish the amount of the fee by rule to reasonably reflect the cost to the department for administering this chapter or to reflect the value of the service, permit, tag, seal or receipt, including at least the following amounts:

1. For cereus giganteus (saguaro), at least three dollars for each plant.

2. For native plants which the director determines to be useful for revegetation and which cannot be salvaged economically at a higher fee, at least twenty-five cents per plant.

3. For all other native plants, at least two dollars for each plant.

4. For all receipts for live harvest restricted native plants cut or removed for wood, at least one dollar per cord.

5. For a permit for the by-products or fiber of harvest restricted native plants, at least one dollar per ton.

C. The Arizona protected native plant fund is established. All fees and other monies collected under this chapter except civil penalties assessed pursuant to section 3-933 or 3-934 shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the fund. The monies deposited constitute a separate and permanent fund for use by the director, subject to legislative appropriation, to administer and enforce this chapter. The director shall administer the fund. On notice from the director, the state treasurer shall invest and divest monies in the fund as provided by section 35-313 and monies earned from investment shall be credited to the fund.