Section 9965.

(a) The Legislature finds that compliance with the mandated regulations of the district will produce public benefits by improving wildlife habitat in the primary management area and that providing public funds to partially offset the costs of complying with those regulations would serve a valid public purpose. Assistance under this section shall not be treated as taxable income to a private landowner.

(b) Each year the district shall submit to the department an estimate of an amount sufficient to reimburse the private landowners in the primary management area for 50 percent of the operation and maintenance costs which it anticipates they will incur the following fiscal year in carrying out this chapter and Division 19 (commencing with Section 29000). Funds for this purpose shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per individual ownership. The funds shall be included in the budget of the department payable from the Wildlife Restoration Fund and shall be available to the department for disbursement to the private landowners in accordance with subdivision (c).

(c) Each fiscal year, any private landowner in the primary management area who desires to qualify for the assistance provided by this section shall, by December 31, submit to the district a claim for those costs incurred that calendar year in carrying out the operation and maintenance activities specified in that landowner's individual ownership management program. Each claim shall be accompanied by substantiating documents, as determined by the district. The district shall review each claim to determine its appropriateness by, including, but not limited to, an onsite inspection to establish that the physical improvements or management procedures for which a claim is submitted have been satisfactorily completed. The district shall submit the individual ownership claims to the department for review and approval for payment equal to 50 percent of each claim. However, no payment shall exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). In any fiscal year in which the funds appropriated for purposes of this section are insufficient to pay 50 percent of each claim, the department shall pay all approved claims on a pro rata basis. In any fiscal year in which no funds are appropriated for purposes of this section, the department shall pay no claims.

(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 142, Sec. 126.)