BILL ANALYSIS Ó Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair AB 528 (Chesbro) Hearing Date: 07/11/2011 Amended: 05/27/2011 Consultant: Brendan McCarthy Policy Vote: NR&W 9-1 _________________________________________________________________ ____ BILL SUMMARY: AB 528 extends the sunset on the Steelhead Fishing Report-Restoration Card program, to July 1, 2017. _________________________________________________________________ ____ Fiscal Impact (in thousands) Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund Fee revenues ($180) to ($290) per year Special * Monitoring and restoration $180 to $290 per year Special * activities * Fish and Game Preservation Fund. _________________________________________________________________ ____ STAFF COMMENTS: Under federal law, most species of steelhead trout in the state are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Under current law, anglers taking steelhead trout in inland waters of the state are required to have both a fishing license and a steelhead report card. Under the Steelhead Fishing Report-Restoration Card program, anglers are required to record information regarding the locations where they have fished and the fish they caught. This information is then sent to the Department of Fish and Game, which uses the information to monitor, manage, and plan for restoration activities to benefit steelhead trout. Currently, anglers pay $6.48 for a report card. Current law sunsets the report card program on July 1, 2012. > (>) Page 1 AB 528 extends the sunset of the report card program to July 1, 2017 and requires the Department to report to the Legislature by July 1, 2016 on program activities. By extending the sunset of the program, the bill will result in revenues of between $180,000 and $290,000 per year and similar levels of expenditure (all funds are available to the Department upon appropriation of the Legislature).