(A) The Fish and Wildlife Protection Fund is created for the purpose of supporting the department and its effort to conserve freshwater fisheries and wildlife. The assets of the fund are derived from the following sources:

(1) revenue from the sale of freshwater fisheries and wildlife licenses, permits, stamps, and tags;

(2) application fees for recreational events and charges for room and board on state property where the property was procured with proceeds from the fund and its predecessor funds;

(3) revenue generated from the sale of timber and property procured with proceeds from the fund and its predecessor funds;

(4) revenue transmitted to the department from the Department of Motor Vehicles for specialty license plates to support department operations;

(5) restricted interest income, contributions, and donations;

(6) indirect cost recoveries where the department matched a grant using the fund; and

(7) any other source of revenue recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, where the disposition of such revenue to any other fund could be interpreted as a loss of control or misdirection of funds by the department.

These funds shall be remitted to the State Treasurer and credited to a special account separate and distinct from the general fund.

(B) Revenue shall be expended by the department for the protection, propagation, and management of freshwater fisheries and wildlife, the enforcement of related laws, the administration of the department, and the dissemination of information, facts, and findings the department considers necessary. Revenue may be expended on permanent improvement or deferred maintenance projects consistent with the purposes of the fund.

(C) Interest earned on balances in the fund shall be credited to the fund and expended for those same purposes.

(D) Balances in the fund shall be retained and carried forward annually and may be used to match available federal funds.