Appropriates $106,070,300 to the Department of Fish and Game for fiscal year 2017; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 558.

This bill appropriates $106,070,300 to the Department of Fish and Game for fiscal year 2017 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 558. The source of funding is from hunting and fishing licenses, tags and permits; federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment; federal mitigation moneys; moneys from Idaho Power and the Office of Species Conservation; and moneys from set-asides and trusts. The appropriation includes funding for the increased costs of health insurance and accounts for an increase in statewide cost allocation. It provides $5,184,500 for replacement items including vehicles, snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, heavy equipment, building improvements, property maintenance, computer equipment, body armor, and radio equipment. This bill also includes an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of the director and accounts for the 27th payroll. The bill includes approval of fifteen line items including: 1) improving shooting ranges; 2) screening diversions and maintaining boating access; 3) managing game, increasing access, and stocking pheasants; 4) maintaining resident fish hatchery production; 5) expanding hunter education and outreach; 6) expanding wildlife monitoring and habitat management; 7) upgrading fish marking and tagging trailers; 8) supporting fish stocking and research; 9) providing for lease increases and acquisition of a seven-acre parcel in Canyon County for a new regional office; 10) approving moneys for the Clagstone Meadows Conservation Easement in Bonner County; 11) approving the rebuild of the Snake River Sockeye Salmon trap on Little Redfish Lake Creek, 12) funding salmon and steelhead habitat projects; 13) approving agency-wide fund shifts; 14) providing appropriation for sage grouse lek monitoring, and 15) authorizing ongoing funding to cover the increased costs of radio communication sites. The FY 2017 budget is a 10.8% increa