Section 16.05.343 - Auctions or raffles for big game harvest permits(a) The department may donate each year for a competitive auction or raffle up to two harvest permits for elk from the Etolin, Afognak, or Raspberry Island herds and one harvest permit for bison. The donation may be made only to a nonprofit corporation established to promote education in outdoor traditions and wildlife conservation and wildlife protection programs in partnership with the department, subject to the terms of a memorandum of agreement developed by the department.(b) [Repealed by 2014 amendment.](c) The department, subject to regulations adopted by the commissioner, may issue, through a competitive auction or raffle, up to four harvest permits each year for each of the following species: emperor goose, Dall sheep, bison, musk ox, brown or grizzly bear, black bear, moose, caribou, goat, elk, and wolf. Subject to regulations, if the department issues permits that allow persons to view bears in the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary established under AS 16.20.160 and 16.20.162, the department may issue up to four of the viewing permits through a competitive auction or raffle. Notwithstanding AS 36.30, the department may authorize a qualified organization selected under (e) of this section to conduct the auction or raffle on behalf of the department. If the department does authorize a qualified organization to conduct an auction or raffle for a species, the department shall make available to a qualified organization at least one harvest permit for that species. A person who is issued a harvest permit under this subsection shall receive upon the person's request a complimentary hunting license and, if applicable, a big game tag for the species for which the harvest permit is issued. A hunting license issued under this subsection must bear the inscription "Governor's license" or a similar designation. Notwithstanding an inscription as a "Governor's license" or a similar designation, the commissioner shall issue licenses under this section. A person who receives a harvest permit, hunting license, or big game tag under this subsection may exercise the privileges conveyed by the permit, license, or tag only in accordance with applicable law. In this subsection, "qualified organization" means an organization selected under (e) of this section.(d) Auctions and raffles of harvest permits authorized under this section are not subject to AS 05.15.(e) The department may select a nonprofit organization that promotes education in outdoor traditions and wildlife conservation and that conducts wildlife conservation and wildlife protection programs to conduct auctions or raffles for the department under (c) of this section. An organization selected under this subsection is a qualified organization for purposes of (c) of this section if the organization (1) is incorporated in the state as a nonprofit corporation; and(2) in the judgment of the department, demonstrates support for a statebased model through a user-pays system based on sustained yield and use principles.(f) If an auction or raffle is conducted by an organization qualified under (e) of this section, the organization may retain an amount from the gross proceeds of the auction or raffle equal to the administrative cost of the auction or raffle plus an additional amount from the auction or raffle not to exceed 30 percent of the net proceeds if the organization will use the funds to support outdoor tradition and wildlife conservation education projects and wildlife conservation and wildlife protection programs approved by the department.(g) Proceeds from a raffle or lottery held under this section may be used only by an organization qualified under (e) of this section for the purposes provided by (f) of this section, and may not be used to make a contribution to a candidate for political office or to an organization supporting or opposing ballot propositions or paying expenses associated with lobbying the legislature or administration. All proceeds from the auction or raffle of the harvest permit less the amount that is retained by a qualified organization under (f) of this section shall be deposited in the fish and game fund under AS 16.05.100.Amended by SLA 2022, ch. 14,§§sec.11, sec.12, sec.13, sec.14 eff. 6/29/2022.Amended by SLA 2014, ch. 47,§§sec.1, sec.2, sec.3, sec.4 eff. 9/18/2014.