AB1038,,29 29.889 (5) (bm) Cost-effectiveness of abatement. A participating county The department may recommend only those wildlife damage abatement measures that are cost-effective in relation to the wildlife damage claim payments that would be paid if the wildlife damage abatement measures are not implemented.

AB1038,15 Section 15. 29.889 (5) (bs) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,31 29.889 (5) (bs) Notwithstanding par. (bm), for damage caused by elk to crops or grasses grown for use by a bird hunting preserve licensed under ch. 169, a participating county the department may recommend fencing the affected property as a damage abatement measure.

AB1038,16 Section 16. 29.889 (5) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 29.889 (5) (c) 1.

AB1038,17 Section 17. 29.889 (5) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB1038,,34 29.889 (5) (c) 2. If the department provides wildlife damage abatement assistance to a person, the department shall determine the actual cost of providing that wildlife damage abatement assistance. The department shall pay 75 percent of the actual cost of providing wildlife damage abatement assistance and shall require the recipient to be responsible for the remaining 25 percent of that cost.

AB1038,18 Section 18. 29.889 (5) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1038,,36 29.889 (5) (d) Bear traps. The department shall require that any live bear trap acquired with wildlife damage abatement assistance be equipped with a remote monitor.

AB1038,19 Section 19. 29.889 (6) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1038,20 Section 20. 29.889 (6) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,39 29.889 (6) (d) Compliance with wildlife damage abatement measures. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage claim payments for an occurrence of wildlife damage, a person seeking wildlife damage claim payments shall have complied with any wildlife damage abatement measures to abate that wildlife damage that were recommended by the county department.

AB1038,21 Section 21. 29.889 (6) (em) of the statutes is renumbered 29.889 (6) (em) 1.

AB1038,22 Section 22. 29.889 (6) (em) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB1038,,42 29.889 (6) (em) 2. Damage to commercial seedings or crops growing on agricultural land caused by operating a vehicle in a field in order to place a live bear trap pursuant to the wildlife damage abatement program is eligible for wildlife damage claim payment.

AB1038,23 Section 23. 29.889 (6) (f) of the statutes is renumbered 29.889 (6) (f) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB1038,,44 29.889 (6) (f) Other eligibility requirements. (intro.) In order to be eligible for wildlife damage claim payments, a all of the following apply:

AB1038,,45 1. A person is required to comply with eligibility requirements adopted by the department under sub. (2) (b) and with eligibility requirements specified in the plan of administration under sub. (3) (c).

AB1038,24 Section 24. 29.889 (6) (f) 2. and 3. of the statutes are created to read:

AB1038,,47 29.889 (6) (f) 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., a person may not receive both a payment of a crop insurance claim for wildlife damage and a payment for a wildlife damage claim that arose from the same growing season.

AB1038,,48 3. a. A person is not eligible for a wildlife damage claim payment for crop damage cause by a bear unless the person has crop insurance that covers wildlife damage. Except as provided in subd. 3. b., the amount of a wildlife damage claim payment for crop damage caused by a bear may not be determined until an insurance claim for the damage is filed and settled. A person who receives a payment of a crop insurance claim for damage caused by a bear may receive a payment for a wildlife damage claim that arose from the same growing season for up to the amount of the damage that was not covered by the insurance payment, subject to sub. (7) (b) 4.

AB1038,,49 b. A person under subd. 3. a. is not required to submit a crop insurance claim for crop damage caused by a bear before receiving a wildlife damage claim payment for that damage if the cumulative crop damage is not sufficient to warrant a crop insurance claim.

AB1038,25 Section 25. 29.889 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,51 29.889 (7) (a) Investigation. A participating county The department shall investigate each statement of claim and determine the total amount of the wildlife damage that occurred, regardless of the amount that may be eligible for payment under par. (b).

AB1038,26 Section 26. 29.889 (7) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,53 29.889 (7) (b) Calculating amount of payment. (intro.) In calculating the amount of the wildlife damage claim payment to be paid for a claim under par. (a), the participating county department shall determine the amount as follows:

AB1038,27 Section 27. 29.889 (7) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,55 29.889 (7) (b) 2. If the amount of claim is more than $500 but not more than $5,250 $5,500, the claimant will be paid 100 percent of the amount of the claim that exceeds $500.

AB1038,28 Section 28. 29.889 (7) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1038,,57 29.889 (7) (b) 3. If the amount of the claim is more than $5,250 $5,500, the claimant will be paid the amount calculated under subd. 2., plus 80 percent of the amount of the claim that exceeds $5,250, subject to subd. 4. $5,500.