Section 13-0501. Marine and coastal district of New York conservation, education, and research grants program

1. There is hereby  created  within  the  department  the  marine  and
  coastal  district  of  New  York  conservation,  education, and research
  grants program. The program shall  make  grants  available  to  eligible
  recipients  for  conservation, research, and education projects relating
  to such marine and coastal district. For purposes  of  this  title,  the
  term   "eligible  recipients"  shall  mean  not-for-profit  corporations
  located within New York state whose purpose is to promote sport fishing,
  increase  participation  in  recreational   angling,   increase   public
  awareness  and  appreciation  of  aquatic  natural  resources, encourage
  conservation of fisheries resources, or promote research relating to the
  marine and coastal district of New York.
    2. The grants program may  include  funding  for  programs  containing
  elements such as, but not limited to, the following:
    (a) educational programs which raise public awareness and appreciation
  of  the  need for protecting, conserving, and restoring the state of New
  York's aquatic natural resources.
    (b) research relating to the marine and coastal district of New York.
    (c) production of informational  materials  in  print,  audio,  video,
  electronic, or other media.
    (d)   production   and   distribution   of  exhibits,  public  service
  announcements, and advertisements.
    (e)  programs  which  promote  angling  and  sport   fishing   through
  information and/or training.
    3.  The  commissioner may accept grants from public or private sources
  for the program. Any such monies shall be deposited in  the  marine  and
  coastal  district of New York conservation, education, and research fund
  established pursuant to section ninety-five-c of the state finance  law.
  The   commissioner,   in  administering  this  section,  shall  seek  to
  coordinate the program with other public and private  efforts,  and  may
  undertake  joint  or  cooperative  programs with other public or private
  entities.
    4. The commissioner shall make rules  and  regulations  necessary  and
  appropriate for the implementation of this section.