Invertebrates & Rare Plants Parks & Wildlife Commission

The bill adds rare plants and invertebrates to the species that may be studied and conserved under the current "Nongame, Endangered, or Threatened Species Conservation Act", which is renamed the "Nongame, Endangered, or Threatened Wildlife and Rare Plant Conservation Act". The department of natural resources is required to include, in the department's SMART Act hearing, information about the investigations conducted under the bill. The general assembly is required to make a general fund appropriation to study invertebrates. Imperiled or potentially imperiled plants are added to the species conservation trust fund, and this addition allows the money in the fund to be spent for conservation of these plants.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)