Electronic Duck Stamp Pilot Program

Pub. L. 109–266, §§ 2–9, Aug. 3, 2006, 120 Stat. 670–673, provided that:

“SEC. 2.

FINDINGS.

“Congress finds that—

“(1)

on March 16, 1934, Congress passed and President Roosevelt signed the Act of March 16, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 718a [718] et seq.) (popularly known as the ‘Duck Stamp Act’), which requires all migratory waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older to buy a Federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp annually;

“(2)

the Federal Duck Stamp program has become one of the most popular and successful conservation programs ever initiated;

“(3)

because of that program, the United States again is teeming with migratory waterfowl and other wildlife that benefit from wetland habitats;

“(4)

as of the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 3, 2006], 1,700,000 migratory bird hunting and conservation stamps are sold each year;

“(5)

as of 2003, those stamps have generated more than $600,000,000 in revenue that has been used to preserve more than 5,000,000 acres of migratory waterfowl habitat in the United States; and

“(6)

many of the more than 540 national wildlife refuges have been paid for wholly or partially with that revenue.

“SEC. 3.

DEFINITIONS.

“In this Act [see Short Title of 2006 Amendment note above]:

“(1)

Actual stamp.—

The term ‘actual stamp’ means a Federal migratory-bird hunting and conservation stamp required under the Act of March 16, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 718a [718] et seq.) (popularly known as the ‘Duck Stamp Act’), that is printed on paper and sold through a means in use immediately before the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 3, 2006].

“(2)

Automated licensing system.—

“(A)

In general.—

The term ‘automated licensing system’ means an electronic, computerized licensing system used by a State fish and wildlife agency to issue hunting, fishing, and other associated licenses and products.

“(B)

Inclusion.—

The term ‘automated licensing system’ includes a point-of-sale, Internet, or telephonic system used for a purpose described in subparagraph (A).

“(3)

Electronic stamp.—

The term ‘electronic stamp’ means an electronic version of an actual stamp that—

“(A)

is a unique identifier for the individual to whom it is issued;

“(B)

can be printed on paper;

“(C)

is issued through a State automated licensing system that is authorized, under State law and by the Secretary under this Act, to issue electronic stamps;

“(D)

is compatible with the hunting licensing system of the State that issues the electronic stamp; and

“(E)

is described in the State application approved by the Secretary under section 4(b).

“(4)

Secretary.—

The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Interior.

“SEC. 4.

ELECTRONIC DUCK STAMP PILOT PROGRAM.

“(a)

Requirement To Conduct Program.—

The Secretary shall conduct a 3-year pilot program under which up to 15 States authorized by the Secretary may issue electronic stamps.

“(b)

Commencement and Duration of Program.—

The Secretary shall—

“(1)

use all means necessary to expeditiously implement this section by the date that is 1 year after the beginning of the first full Federal migratory waterfowl hunting season after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 3, 2006]; and

“(2)

carry out the pilot program for 3 Federal migratory waterfowl hunting seasons.

“(c)

Consultation.—

The Secretary shall carry out the program in consultation with State management agencies.

“SEC. 5.

STATE APPLICATION.

“(a)

Approval of Application Required.—

A State may not participate in the pilot program under this Act unless the Secretary has received and approved an application submitted by the State in accordance with this section.

“(b)

Contents of Application.—

The Secretary may not approve a State application unless the application contains—

“(1)

a description of the format of the electronic stamp that the State will issue under the pilot program, including identifying features of the licensee that will be specified on the stamp;

“(2)

a description of any fee the State will charge for issuance of an electronic stamp;

“(3)

a description of the process the State will use to account for and transfer to the Secretary the amounts collected by the State that are required to be transferred to the Secretary under the program;

“(4)

the manner by which the State will transmit electronic stamp customer data to the Secretary;

“(5)

the manner by which actual stamps will be delivered;

“(6)

the policies and procedures under which the State will issue duplicate electronic stamps; and

“(7)

such other policies, procedures, and information as may be reasonably required by the Secretary.

“(c)

Publication of Deadlines, Eligibility Requirements, and Selection Criteria.—

Not later than 30 days before the date on which the Secretary begins accepting applications for participation in the pilot program, the Secretary shall publish—

“(1)

deadlines for submission of applications to participate in the program;

“(2)

eligibility requirements for participation in the program; and

“(3)

criteria for selecting States to participate in the program.

“SEC. 6.

STATE OBLIGATIONS AND AUTHORITIES.

“(a)

Delivery of Actual Stamp.—

The Secretary shall require that each individual to whom a State sells an electronic stamp under the pilot program shall receive an actual stamp—

“(1)

by not later than the date on which the electronic stamp expires under section 7(c); and

“(2)

in a manner agreed upon by the State and Secretary.

“(b)

Collection and Transfer of Electronic Stamp Revenue and Customer Information.—

“(1)

Requirement to transmit.—

The Secretary shall require each State participating in the pilot program to collect and submit to the Secretary in accordance with this section—

“(A)

the first name, last name, and complete mailing address of each individual that purchases an electronic stamp from the State;

“(B)

the face value amount of each electronic stamp sold by the State; and

“(C)

the amount of the Federal portion of any fee required by the agreement for each stamp sold.

“(2)

Time of transmittal.—

The Secretary shall require the submission under paragraph (1) to be made with respect to sales of electronic stamps by a State occurring in a month—

“(A)

by not later than the 15th day of the subsequent month; or

“(B)

as otherwise specified in the application of the State approved by the Secretary under section 5.

“(3)

Additional fees not affected.—

This section shall not apply to the State portion of any fee collected by a State under subsection (c).

“(c)

Electronic Stamp Issuance Fee.—

A State participating in the pilot program may charge a reasonable fee to cover costs incurred by the State and the Department of the Interior in issuing electronic stamps under the program, including costs of delivery of actual stamps.

“(d)

Duplicate Electronic Stamps.—

A State participating in the pilot program may issue a duplicate electronic stamp to replace an electronic stamp issued by the State that is lost or damaged.

“(e)

Limitation on Authority To Require Purchase of State License.—

A State may not require that an individual purchase a State hunting license as a condition of issuing an electronic stamp under the pilot program.

“SEC. 7.

ELECTRONIC STAMP REQUIREMENTS; RECOGNITION OF ELECTRONIC STAMP.

“(a)

Stamp Requirements.—

The Secretary shall require an electronic stamp issued by a State under the pilot program—

“(1)

to have the same format as any other license, validation, or privilege the State issues under the automated licensing system of the State; and

“(2)

to specify identifying features of the licensee that are adequate to enable Federal, State, and other law enforcement officers to identify the holder.

“(b)

Recognition of Electronic Stamp.—

Any electronic stamp issued by a State under the pilot program shall, during the effective period of the electronic stamp—

“(1)

bestow upon the licensee the same privileges as are bestowed by an actual stamp;

“(2)

be recognized nationally as a valid Federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp; and

“(3)

authorize the licensee to hunt migratory waterfowl in any other State, in accordance with the laws of the other State governing that hunting.

“(c)

Duration.—

An electronic stamp issued by a State under the pilot program shall be valid for a period agreed to by the State and the Secretary, which shall not exceed 45 days.

“SEC. 8.

TERMINATION OF STATE PARTICIPATION.

“Participation by a State in the pilot program may be terminated—

“(1)

by the Secretary, if the Secretary—

“(A)

finds that the State has violated any of the terms of the application of the State approved by the Secretary under section 5; and

“(B)

provides to the State written notice of the termination by not later than the date that is 30 days before the date of termination; or

“(2)

by the State, by providing written notice to the Secretary by not later than the date that is 30 days before the termination date.

“SEC. 9.

EVALUATION.

“(a)

Evaluation.—

The Secretary, in consultation with State fish and wildlife management agencies and appropriate stakeholders with expertise specific to the duck stamp program, shall evaluate the pilot program and determine whether the pilot program has provided a cost-effective and convenient means for issuing migratory-bird hunting and conservation stamps, including whether the program has—

“(1)

increased the availability of those stamps;

“(2)

assisted States in meeting the customer service objectives of the States with respect to those stamps;

“(3)

maintained actual stamps as an effective and viable conservation tool; and

“(4)

maintained adequate retail availability of the actual stamp.

“(b)

Report.—

The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary under subsection (a).”