(a) The department shall provide a space on the Pennsylvania individual income tax return form whereby an individual may voluntarily designate a contribution of any amount desired to the Wild Resource Conservation Fund established under section 5 of the act of June 23, 1982 (P.L. 597, No. 170),¹ known as the “Wild Resource Conservation Act.”

(b) The amount so designated by an individual on the income tax return form shall be deducted from the tax refund to which such individual is entitled and shall not constitute a charge against the income tax revenues due the Commonwealth.

(c) The department shall determine annually the total amount designated pursuant to this section and shall report such amount to the State Treasurer who shall transfer such amount from the General Fund to the Wild Resource Conservation Fund for use as provided in the “Wild Resource Conservation Act.” The department shall be reimbursed from the fund for any administrative costs incurred above and beyond the cost savings it realizes as a result of individual total refund designations.

(d) The department shall provide adequate information concerning the Wild Resource Conservation Fund in its instructions which accompany State income tax return forms, which shall include the listing of an address furnished to it by the Wild Resource Conservation Board to which contributions may be sent by those taxpayers wishing to contribute to said fund but who do not receive refunds.

(e) This section shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1997.