BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1287|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 1287
Author: Harman (R), et al.
Amended: 6/15/12
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES & WATER COMM. : 9-0, 4/24/12
AYES: Pavley, La Malfa, Cannella, Evans, Fuller, Kehoe,
Padilla, Simitian, Wolk
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SENATE FLOOR : 33-0, 5/25/12 (Consent)
AYES: Alquist, Anderson, Berryhill, Blakeslee, Cannella,
Corbett, Correa, De León, DeSaulnier, Dutton, Emmerson,
Evans, Fuller, Gaines, Harman, Hernandez, Huff, La Malfa,
Leno, Lieu, Liu, Lowenthal, Negrete McLeod, Padilla,
Pavley, Price, Rubio, Steinberg, Vargas, Walters, Wolk,
Wright, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Calderon, Hancock, Kehoe, Runner,
Simitian, Strickland, Wyland
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 79-0, 8/16/12 (Consent) - See last page
for vote
SUBJECT : Sport fishing licenses
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill adds to the list of persons eligible
to receive a reduced-fee annual fishing license a
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recovering service member who provides to the Department of
Fish and Game (DFG) a letter from his or her commanding
officer or a military medical doctor stating the person's
status as a recovering service member.
Assembly Amendments alter the period of license issuance
for full price annual fishing licenses from a calendar year
to a period of 12 consecutive months, and add co-authors.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1.Requires DFG to issue a sport fishing license, upon
payment of a fee, to eligible California residents and
nonresidents, as specified.
2.Requires DFG to issue a reduced fee sport fishing
license, as specified, to a disabled veteran, as defined
that is valid for the calendar year of issue, or, if
issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder
of the year.
3.Establishes the lengths of time a sport fishing license
is valid, including for a period of one calendar year,
for anyone over 16 years of age, as provided.
This bill requires DFG to issue a reduced fee sport fishing
license to active military personnel who are recovering
service members, as defined, and who demonstrate
eligibility, as prescribed.
This bill provides that a reduced fee sport fishing license
is valid for one year as specified by existing law, and
adds coauthors.
Background
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 DFG.
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Existing 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 Welfare and Institutions Code Section
12200.
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,
Enhancing the Physical and Social Self Through Recreational
Activity: Accounts of Individuals With Physical
Disabilities). In the U.S. Marines Wounded Warrior
Regiment 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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/16/12)
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American Legion-Department of California
AMVETS-Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
California Waterfowl Association
Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, Inc.,
Department of California
Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary
Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council
OPPOSITION : (Verified 8/17/12)
Department of Finance
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : The author's office 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 allows 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 : The Department of Finance
(Finance) is opposed to this bill. While the intent of the
bill is meritorious, this bill will result in a reduction
in revenue to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund (FGPF)
and the Hatchery and Inland Fisheries Fund (HIFF), both of
which are structurally imbalanced.
Currently, the HIFF has a structural imbalance of
approximately $4.3 million and the FGPF has a structural
imbalance of approximately $17.7 million.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 79-0, 08/16/12
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos,
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Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis, Dickinson,
Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani,
Beth Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon, Gorell,
Grove, Hagman, Halderman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger
Hernández, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones,
Knight, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza,
Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen,
Norby, Olsen, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino,
Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Valadao,
Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada, John A. Pérez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Lara
CTW:RM:m 8/17/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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