Sportsmans Benevolence Fund Information


During the last legislative session a program was created that gave the Law Enforcement Division the ability to partner with groups who's goal is feed Indiana's hungry through a deer donation program. Typically these groups pay processors who take in donated deer and make the processed meat available to local foodbanks. We will generate funds through the sale of various products and we also have the ability to take straight donations from anyone interested in supporting the program.

Our first stab at this is we have purchased 25,000 pins that we are selling for $5 each. If successful that will generate $125,000 which along with other donations would be matched with monies raised by the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry Program or the Sportsmen Feeding the Hungry Program to expand what they are already doing.

We are trying to get on-line sales set up and sales through DNR properties but right now the best way to purchase a pin is to contact a local officer. Aside from the purchase of a pin, Indiana deer hunters can support the program through the donation of a deer or two at participating processors. See http://www.fhfh.org/Butchers.asp?StateLookup=IN for a list of current participating butchers.

The statute is below and an example of the pin is below that. It is important to note that the is a non-reverting account so any donor can be assured that his/her donation does not revert to the general fund at the end of a fiscal year.
SOURCE: IC 14-9-5-3; (08)EH1121.3.2. --> SECTION 2. IC 14-9-5-3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008]: Sec. 3. Money in a fund does not revert to the state general fund at the end of a state fiscal year. until the fund contains fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Any amount greater than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) reverts to the state general fund at the end of each state fiscal year.

SOURCE: IC 14-9-5-4; (08)EH1121.3.3. --> SECTION 3. IC 14-9-5-4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008]: Sec. 4. (a) As used in this section, "account" means the Indiana sportsmen's benevolence account established by subsection (b).
(b) The Indiana sportsmen's benevolence account is established within the fund for the division of law enforcement to encourage citizen participation in feeding the state's hungry through donations of wild game that has been lawfully hunted.
(c) The account consists of:
(1) gifts;
(2) donations; and
(3) proceeds derived from marketing by the division of law enforcement of goods related to the feeding of the state's hungry through donations of wild game under subsection (a).
(d) The expenses of administering the account shall be paid from money in the account.
(e) The division of law enforcement shall:
(1) conduct a publicity campaign relating to feeding the state's hungry through donations of wild game;
(2) coordinate with nonprofit entities and other entities created with goals of feeding the state's hungry; and
(3) engage in any other activities to further the goals of this section.
(f) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the account not currently needed to meet the obligations of the account in the same manner as other public money may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the account.