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SB-470 Fishing and hunting: annual combined hunting and fishing licenses.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 04/20/2021 09:00 PM
SB470:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  April 20, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 470

Introduced by Senator Jones
(Coauthors: Senators Cortese, Dahle, Dodd, and Wilk)

February 17, 2021

An act to add and repeal Section 714 to of the Fish and Game Code, relating to fishing and hunting.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 470, as amended, Jones. Fishing and hunting: annual combined hunting and fishing licenses.
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. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue an annual sport fishing license to a resident or nonresident upon payment of the applicable fee. Under existing law, the annual sport fishing license is valid for the period of a calendar year, or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder of the year.
Under existing law, a hunting license grants the privilege to take birds and mammals. Existing law requires the department to issue an annual hunting license to a resident or nonresident upon payment of the applicable fee. Under existing law, the annual hunting license is valid for a term of one year from July 1 to June 30, inclusive, or, if issued after the beginning of the term, for the remainder of the term.
This bill would create the annual combined hunting and fishing license that would grant the holder of the license the same privileges as the annual hunting and fishing licenses and that would be valid for a term of one year from the date specified on of purchase of the license. The bill would limit the issuance of these licenses to residents and would require the department to issue these licenses beginning January 1, 2023, upon payment of a fee of $100, as 2024. The bill would require the department to submit a report to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2023, that among others things, estimates the initial license fee necessary to fully recover the cost of developing, implementing, and administering the license and associated enforcement activities. The bill would require the Fish and Game Commission to determine the amount of the initial license fee based upon information in that report. The bill would require the license fee to be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill would require the Fish and Game Commission commission to adjust the amount of the fee to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the department and the commission relating to these licenses. The bill would require the department to provide an applicant for one of these licenses the option to automatically renew the license and would provide a 5% discount if the applicant selects this option. license. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2028, to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the license, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 714 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:

714.
 (a) In addition to Section 3031, 3031.2, 7149.05, or 7149.2, the department shall, beginning January 1, 2023, 2024, issue annual combined hunting and fishing licenses pursuant to this section.
(b) (1) An annual combined hunting and fishing license authorizes the taking of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians anywhere in this state in accordance with law for purposes other than profit.
(2) A valid annual combined hunting and fishing license grants the person holding the license the same privileges that are granted under a valid sport fishing license and a valid hunting license. This section does not exempt an applicant for a license from meeting other qualifications or requirements otherwise established by law for the privilege of sport hunting or sport fishing.
(3) An annual combined hunting and fishing license does not include any special tags, stamps, or other entitlements.
(4) An annual combined hunting and fishing license is not transferable.
(5) An annual combined hunting and fishing license may be issued pursuant to this section to residents and nonresidents.
(c) An annual combined hunting and fishing license is valid for a term of one year beginning on the date specified on of purchase of the license, unless revoked for a violation of this code or regulations adopted pursuant to this code.

(d)(1)The department shall issue an annual combined hunting and fishing license to a resident of this state, upon the payment of a base fee of one hundred dollars ($100).

(2)The base fee specified in this section is applicable commencing January 1, 2023, and shall be adjusted annually thereafter pursuant to Section 713.

(d) (1) On or before July 1, 2023, the department shall prepare a report and submit it to the Legislature with the following information related to determining the license fee for the annual combined hunting and fishing license authorized by this section. The department shall do the following in preparing the report:
(A) Conservatively estimate how many combined annual hunting and fishing licenses are likely to be purchased.
(B) Conservatively estimate the initial license fee for the combined annual hunting and fishing license fee necessary to fully recover the cost of developing, implementing, and administering the combined annual hunting and fishing license and associated enforcement activities.
(C) Use estimates in the report that incorporate, are consistent with, and are supported by, available data, including historic hunting and fishing license sales, and mission and service task data generated through the service-based budget review conducted pursuant to Section 712.1. The data used shall be made publicly available with the report.
(2) The report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(e) The commission shall determine the amount of the initial license fee for the combined annual hunting and fishing license based upon the information in the report required pursuant to subdivision (d). The fee shall be adjusted annually thereafter pursuant to Section 713.

(e)

(f) The commission shall adjust the amount of the fee specified in subdivision (d), (e), as necessary, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the department and the commission relating to those licenses.

(f)

(g) The department shall provide an applicant for an annual combined hunting and fishing license issued pursuant to this section the option to sign up for automatic renewal of the license. If an applicant selects this option, the fee for the license in that year and in any subsequent year the licensed is automatically renewed shall be 5 percent less than the cost of an annual combined hunting and fishing license in the applicable year.

(g)

(h) The department and the commission shall revise applicable sport fishing regulations, as needed, to conform to the valid time period for the annual combined hunting and fishing license. license issued pursuant to this section.
(i) (1) On or before July 1, 2028, the department shall submit to the Legislature a written report evaluating the annual combined hunting and fishing license issued pursuant to this section including sales information, the costs of administering and implementing the license to the department and commission, and evidence of any changes in the number of hunting and sport fishing participants due to the license. The department shall collect all relevant, appropriate, and sufficient data necessary to evaluate the annual combined hunting and fishing license issued pursuant to this section and to justify the amount of the license fees assessed pursuant to this section, including information about data collection, and enforcement costs. Data collection efforts pursuant to this subdivision shall avoid duplication, and use data collected for other purposes, as feasible.
(2) The report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.