Bill Text: CA AB986 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Hunting and sport fishing licenses: sport fishing license duration: reduction in license fees for veterans.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 17-3)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-08-16 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB986 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB986-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Senate  June 13, 2018
Amended  IN  Assembly  January 22, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 986


Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Bigelow, Brough, Chávez, Harper, Lackey, Mathis, Patterson, Rodriguez, Steinorth, Voepel, Acosta, and Eduardo Garcia)
(Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Bates, Morrell, Nielsen, Bradford, and Vidak)

February 16, 2017


An act to add Sections 3034, 7152, and 7152.5 to, and to add and repeal Section 7149.06 of, the Fish and Game Code, relating to fish and wildlife.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 986, as amended, Gallagher. Hunting and sport fishing licenses: sport fishing license duration: reduction in license fees for veterans.
Existing law requires every person 16 years of age or older who takes any fish, reptile, or amphibian for any purpose other than profit to first obtain a sport fishing license for that purpose, with specified exceptions, and to have that license on his or her person or in his or her immediate possession when engaged in carrying out any activity authorized by the license. Existing law requires a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a specified fee, to be issued a sport fishing license for the period of a calendar year, or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder thereof. Existing law also requires the issuance of shorter term licenses upon payment of a specified lesser fee. Existing law requires the Fish and Game Commission to adjust the amount of the fees, as prescribed, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the commission relating to those licenses.
This bill, in addition to sport fishing licenses for the periods specified above, would require a sport fishing license to be issued to a resident or nonresident for the period of 12 consecutive months, upon payment of a fee that is equal to 130% of the fees for issuance of resident or nonresident calendar-year licenses, as applicable. The bill would require the commission to adjust the amount of the fees as necessary to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation and administrative costs of the department and the commission relating to these licenses, including all costs related to their establishment. establishment and enforcement. The bill would require the department to submit to the Legislature a written report on the implementation of these provisions, as provided. The bill would make these provisions operative beginning January 1, 2020, until January 1, 2023.
Under existing law, a hunting license grants the privilege to take birds and mammals. Existing law requires the department to issue a hunting license for specified periods of time, including for a term of one year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a sport fishing license for specified periods of time, including for the period of a calendar year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue lifetime hunting licenses and lifetime sport fishing licenses, and grants certain lifetime privileges to holders of those licenses, upon the one-time payment of specified fees.
This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain the above-described licenses and the 12 consecutive month licenses created by this bill by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of California.
Under existing law, the department issues, upon payment of specified fees, various types of sport fishing report cards and validations that are required, in addition to a sport fishing license, to engage in various activities relating to the taking and possession of amphibians, reptiles, and fish for purposes other than profit.
This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of California and by 50% for a person who meets those requirements and who also has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 3034 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:

3034.
 The department shall reduce the fee required to obtain hunting licenses specified in Sections 3031 and 3031.2 by 25 percent for a person who meets both of the following requirements:
(a) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and was honorably discharged.
(b) The person is a resident of California.

SEC. 2.

 Section 7149.06 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:

7149.06.
 (a) In addition to sport fishing licenses for the periods specified in Section 7149.05, a sport fishing license granting the privilege to take any fish, reptile, or amphibian anywhere in this state for purposes other than profit for the period of 12 consecutive months, beginning on the date specified on the license, shall be issued to both of the following:
(1) A resident, 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a fee that is equal to 130 percent, rounded to the nearest twenty-five cents ($0.25), of the fee charged to a resident for a calendar-year license under Section 7149.05.
(2) A nonresident, 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a fee that is equal to 130 percent, rounded to the nearest twenty-five cents ($0.25), of the fee charged to a nonresident for a calendar-year license under Section 7149.05.
(b) The terms and conditions set forth in Section 7149.05 regarding issuance of California sport fishing license validations shall also apply with respect to sport fishing licenses issued pursuant to this section.
(c) (1) The commission shall adjust the amount of the fees specified in this section, as necessary, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation and administrative costs of the department and the commission relating to the licenses under this section. Administrative and implementation Implementation and administrative costs shall include all costs related to the establishment and enforcement of these licenses.
(2) The department shall collect all relevant, appropriate, and sufficient data necessary to justify the amount of the fees assessed pursuant to this section, including information about data collection and enforcement costs. Data collection efforts undertaken pursuant to this section shall avoid duplication and use data collected for other purposes, as feasible.
(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.
(e) On or before December 1, 2021, the department shall submit to the Legislature a written report on the implementation of this section. The report shall include all information collected pursuant to subdivision (c). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(e)

(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2023, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 3.

 Section 7152 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:

7152.
 The department shall reduce the fee required to obtain sport fishing licenses specified in Sections 7149.05, 7149.06, and 7149.2 by 25 percent for a person who meets both of the following requirements:
(a) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and was honorably discharged.
(b) The person is a resident of California.

SEC. 4.

 Section 7152.5 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:

7152.5.
 (a) The department shall reduce the fee, including the fee specified in subdivision (e) of Section 7149.2, required to obtain any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement that is required or that may be used in addition to a valid sport fishing license to take an amphibian, reptile, or fish by 25 percent for a person who meets both of the following requirements:
(1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and was honorably discharged.
(2) The person is a resident of California.
(b) The department shall reduce the fee, including the fee specified in subdivision (e) of Section 7149.2, required to obtain any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement that is required or that may be used in addition to a valid sport fishing license to take an amphibian, reptile, or fish by 50 percent for a person who meets all of the following requirements:
(1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and was honorably discharged.
(2) The person has a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.
(3) The person is a resident of California.

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