BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 1287 Page 1 Date of Hearing: June 12, 2012 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE Jared Huffman, Chair SB 1287 (Harman) - As Amended: April 26, 2012 SENATE VOTE : 33 - 0 SUBJECT : Sport Fishing Licenses - Recovering Service Members SUMMARY : Allows a recovering service member of the military to be eligible for a reduced fee sport fishing license. Specifically, this bill : Adds recovering service members to those eligible for a reduced fee fishing license. A person would need to submit a letter from their commanding officer or from a military medical doctor stating that they are a recovering service member to be eligible for the reduced fee. EXISTING LAW 1)Requires that a fishing license, issued through the Department of Fish and Game, be held by any person who is 16 years of age or older when taking any fish, shell fish, reptile, or amphibian in California. 2)Provides that a reduced fee annual sport fishing license may be offered to: a) Disabled veterans having a 50% or greater service-connected disability with proof of honorable discharge and proof of the disability. b) California residents over the age of 65 who meet described financial criteria. 3)Makes fishing licenses valid for the calendar year, or if issued after the beginning of the year, the remainder thereof, for a set fee. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs. COMMENTS : 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 SB 1287 Page 2 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. Recreation can improve people's physical and mental health and well-being, and is widely used by the U.S. military for training and rehabilitation. The U.S. Marines Wounded Warrior Regiment Strategic Plan for 2011-2012 states a goal to "Empower wounded, ill and injured 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." 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. One Wounded Warrior program states that "Fishing is a solace?the opposite of war?gentle and healing". 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. Supporting Arguments: The author states, "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. SB 1287 would allow these service members to enjoy California's natural resources as part of their rehabilitative care at a discounted price. Those in uniform who remain in active service and who are participating in therapy for their injuries are currently not covered by present law and thus not recognized by DFG as with their veteran counterparts. SB 1287 remedies this disparity and allows DFG to recognize both veterans and wounded warriors equitably." Suggested Amendments: 1)Per request of the author, add the following co-authors: Senators Dutton, Fuller, Runner, Assemblymembers Harkey, Garrick, Miller, Jefferies, Portantino, Mansoor 2)Due to concurrent pending legislation (AB 1786, Mansoor) that alters the period of license issuance for full price annual SB 1287 Page 3 fishing licenses from a calendar year to a period of 12 consecutive months, the committee recommends amending the portion of this legislation that addresses the period of license issuance to be on the same time frame as that for full price licenses with the following: Section 7150. (a) Upon application to the department's headquarters office in Sacramento and payment of a base fee of four dollars ($4), as adjusted pursuant to Section 713, the following persons, who have not been convicted of any violation of this code, shall be issued a reduced fee sport fishing license that is validfor the calendar year of issue, or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder thereoffor one year as specified in section 7149 or 7149.05 and that authorizes the licensee to take any fish, reptile, or amphibians anywhere in this state as otherwise authorized pursuant to this code and regulations adopted pursuant thereto for purposes other than profit: REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION : Support American Legion-Department of California AMVETS Department of California California Association of County Veterans Service Officers California State Commanders Veterans Council Military Order of the Purple Heart of the United States, Inc., Department of California Vietnam Veterans of America - California State Council Opposition None on file. Analysis Prepared by : Mandy Arens / W., P. & W. / (916) 319-2096