BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Fran Pavley, Chair |
| 2011-2012 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: SB 1287 HEARING DATE: April 24, 2012
AUTHOR: Harman URGENCY: No
VERSION: As proposed to be amended CONSULTANT: Alena Pribyl
DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: Sport fishing licenses.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
In general, a sport fishing license is required to take fish,
mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians or reptiles in
inland or ocean waters. Additional validations and report cards
are required for certain species and areas. Sport fishing
licenses are acquired through the Department of Fish and Game
(DFG).
Current law requires DFG to provide reduced fee sport fishing
licenses to disabled veterans and persons over 65 years of age
whose total monthly income does not exceed the amount listed in
Section 12200 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
Active military personnel who are recovering service members are
defined as a member of the Armed Forces, including a member of
the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical
treatment, recuperation, or therapy and is in an outpatient
status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related
to the member's military service (Section 1602 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008).
Wounded Warrior programs are efforts by the U.S. Armed Services
to care for recovering service members during their transition
back to civilian life. This system of support and advocacy
guides soldiers from evacuation through treatment and
rehabilitation until they return to duty or leave the military.
Research on individuals with physical disabilities shows
participation in recreational activities develops an enhanced
sense of control in their physical and social lives (Blinde and
McClung 1997). In the U.S. Marines Wounded Warrior Regiment
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Strategic Plan for 2011-2012, under Goal 1, objective 1.2, they
list "Empower wounded, ill and injured (WI&I) Marines and
families by providing a variety of leisure/recreation activities
and sporting opportunities to aid in their recovery process and
to promote a healthy and productive lifestyle."
Several states currently offer reduced cost (Florida, Michigan,
Nevada, New Mexico, Virginia, Wisconsin) or free fishing
licenses (Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Vermont) for active duty
military personnel.
Blinde, E.M. and L.R. McClung. 1997. Enhancing the Physical and
Social Self Through Recreational Activity:
Accounts of Individuals With Physical Disabilities. Adapted
Physical Activity Quarterly 14: 327-344.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would require DFG to provide reduced fee sport fishing
licenses to active military personnel who are recovering service
members. A person would need to submit a letter from their
commanding officer and from a military medical doctor stating
that they are a recovering service member to be eligible for the
reduced fee.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
The author states that a significant part of the healing process
for seriously injured service members is enabling and
encouraging them to experience some of the recreational
activities they enjoyed prior to their injury or illness. This
bill would allow service members to enjoy California's natural
resources as part of their rehabilitative care at a discounted
price. Disabled veterans are currently eligible for reduced fee
fishing licenses, however those in active service and are
participating in therapy for their injuries are currently not
covered by the present law. This bill remedies that disparity
and allows DFG to recognize both disabled veterans and wounded
warriors equitably.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received
COMMENTS
The author has requested the following amendments to be taken in
committee. Recovering service personnel may not be in contact
with their commanding officer, thus they will be required to
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provide a letter from either their commanding officer or a
military medical doctor.
AMENDMENT 1
Page 2, line 26: replace "and" with "or"
SUPPORT
Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, Inc., Department
of California
Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary
OPPOSITION
None Received
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