Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act of 2017

To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to modernize the funding of wildlife conservation, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act 2. Purpose The first section of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669 One of the purposes of this Act is to provide financial and technical assistance to the States for the promotion of hunting and recreational shooting. 3. Definitions Section 2 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669a (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as paragraphs (4) through (10), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) for the purposes of determining the number of paid hunting-license holders in a State, the term fiscal year (3) the term hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment (A) using social media, marketing, advertising, surveying, television spots, print, and media; (B) providing education, mentoring, and field demonstrations; (C) enhancing access for hunting and recreational shooting, including through range construction; (D) providing education to the public about the role of hunting and recreational shooting in funding wildlife conservation; and (E) using any other means to ensure the growth of hunting and recreational shooting, as determined by the Secretary; . 4. Allocation and apportionment of available amounts (a) Apportionment to States Section 4(b) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669c(b) (1) in the first sentence, by striking The Secretary of the Interior (1) In general The Secretary ; (2) in the second sentence, by striking Such apportionments (2) Adjustments The apportionments under paragraph (1) ; (3) by striking the third sentence; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (3) Use of funds (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), amounts apportioned under this subsection may be used for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment. (B) Limitation A State may make an expenditure under subparagraph (A) only if the amount of the expenditure during the fiscal year in which the expenditure is made plus the amount of the expenditures for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment made during the 4 fiscal years preceding that fiscal year is not greater than 25 percent of the total amount apportioned to the State under this subsection during that 5-fiscal-year period. . (b) Apportionment of certain taxes The first subsection (c) of section 4 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669c (1) by inserting Apportionment of revenues from pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows.— (2) by striking One-half (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), 1/2 ; (3) by striking : Provided (4) by striking each State shall be apportioned not more than 3 per centum and not less than 1 per centum of such revenues (2) Condition The amount apportioned to each State under paragraph (1) shall be not greater than 3 percent and not less than 1 percent of the revenues described in such paragraph ; (5) by striking For the purpose (3) Population determination For the purpose ; and (6) by adding at the end the following: (4) Use of funds In addition to other uses authorized under this Act, amounts apportioned under this subsection may be used for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment. . (c) Technical correction Section 4 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669c 5. Expenditures for management of wildlife areas and resources Section 8 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669g (1) in subsection (a), in the third sentence, by striking and public relations (2) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by striking , as a part of such program 6. Firearm and bow hunter education and safety program grants Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669h–1(a)(1)(A) (1) in clause (iii), by striking and (2) by adding at the end the following: (v) the enhancement of hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment; and . 7. Multistate conservation grant program Section 11 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669h–2 (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) by striking Not more than (A) In general Not more than ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) Availability for hunter and recreational shooter grants Not more than $5,000,000 of the revenues covered into the fund from any tax imposed under section 4161(b) ; (2) in the matter preceding subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking International (3) in the matter preceding subsection (c)(2)(A)(i), by striking International (4) in subsection (c)(2)(A)(i), by inserting or to recreational shooting activities wildlife (5) in subsection (d), by inserting or to recreational shooting activities wildlife August 14, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act of 2017 This bill amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make it one of the purposes of the Act to provide financial and technical assistance to the states for the promotion of hunting and recreational shooting. The bill also prescribes a formula for the allocation of funds apportioned to a state that may be used for any activity or project to recruit or retain hunters and recreational shooters. In addition to other uses authorized under this bill, amounts apportioned to the states from any taxes on pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows may be used for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment. The funds apportioned to a state for wildlife restoration management may be used for related public relations. If a state has not used all of the tax revenues apportioned to it for firearm and bow hunter education and safety program grants, it may use its remaining apportioned funds for the enhancement of hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment. Up to $5 million of the revenues covered into the wildlife restoration fund in the Treasury from any tax imposed for a fiscal year on the sale of certain bows, arrows, and archery equipment shall be available to the Department of the Interior exclusively for making hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment grants that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities.