BILL NUMBER: SB 1434	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wolk

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add Section 711.1 to the Fish and Game Code, relating to
fish and wildlife.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1434, as introduced, Wolk. Funding of fish and wildlife
programs.
   Existing federal law imposes a sales tax on the sale of bows and
arrows, ammunition, and certain firearms. Existing federal law, the
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, makes certain revenues
collected from those taxes available to the states by requiring the
Secretary of the Interior to apportion an amount available to each
state according to a specified formula. The federal act authorizes a
state, through its fish and wildlife department, to submit programs
or projects for wildlife restoration and hunter safety education to
the Secretary of the Interior for funding of up to 75% of the cost of
those programs or projects from the amount apportioned to the state.

   Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife in
the Natural Resources Agency, administered through the Director of
Fish and Wildlife. Existing law requires the department, with
approval of the Fish and Game Commission, to perform acts as may be
necessary to the conduct and establishment of cooperative
wildlife-restoration projects, in compliance with the federal act and
regulations adopted pursuant to the federal act. Under existing law,
the Legislature has made findings that the costs of hunting programs
shall be provided out of hunting revenues, reimbursements, and
federal funds received for hunting programs, and from other funds
appropriated by the Legislature for this purpose. The Legislature has
also made findings that these revenues, reimbursements, and federal
funds shall not be used to support commercial fishing programs, free
hunting and fishing license programs, or nongame fish and wildlife
programs.
   This bill would require the department to only apply for grant
funds available to the state under the federal act to fund eligible
projects that are consistent with the legislative findings described
above and that fulfill one or more specified purposes. The bill would
require the department to post a brief description of projects
funded by moneys received from the federal act on its Internet Web
site. The bill would require the department to consult with specified
hunting advisory committees regarding any project funded by the
federal act. The bill would prohibit any executive action from
limiting statutory or other applicable authorizations for which the
department receives funding exclusively from non-General Fund
sources.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 711.1 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:
   711.1.  (a) The department shall only apply for grant funds
available to the state pursuant to the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.) to fund eligible projects
under the act that are consistent with the legislative finding
expressed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 711 and that
fulfill one or more of the following purposes:
   (1) Management of the department's wildlife areas or other lands
open to the public for hunting, or both.
   (2) Conservation of game species.
   (3) Support of the department's hunting-related programs,
including hunter education and target shooting.
   (b) The department shall post a brief description of projects or
programs funded by moneys received pursuant to the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act on its Internet Web site. The description
shall include information about the budget of each project or
program.
   (c) The department shall consult with the advisory committees
established pursuant to Sections 3684 and 3953 regarding any project
funded by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act.
   (d) No executive action shall limit statutory and other applicable
authorizations for which the department receives funding exclusively
from non-General Fund sources.