BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 497
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 15, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    AB 497 (Chesbro) - As Amended:  April 4, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                              Water, Parks and  
          Wildlife     Vote:                            15-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:   
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill makes several changes to meeting and operations  
          procedures of the Fish and Game Commission (FGC).  Specifically,  
          this bill: 

          1)Reduces the number of hearings required to be held annually  
            from 10 to eight.  Eliminates the requirement that no more  
            than three meetings may be held in Sacramento per year.

          2)Requires the FGC to amend any proposed regulations in a public  
            meeting.

          3)Exempts certain regulations from the Administrative Procedures  
            Act if they conform with federal rules and regulations.

          4)Authorizes the development of regulations for the taking of  
            salmon and groundfish;

          5)Allows Dungeness crab traps and gear to be set 64 hours prior  
            to the opening date of crab season.

          6)Requires FGC to form a wildlife resource committee to make  
            recommendations regarding non-marine resource issues.


          FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor, absorbable costs to the state.

           COMMENTS  









                                                                  AB 497
                                                                  Page  2

           1)Rationale.    This bill makes procedural changes to give the  
            FGC more flexibility in establishing meeting schedules and  
            reducing meeting costs.  It also makes a number of changes to  
            streamline the regulatory process and elevate the focus on  
            non-marine wildlife resources.  
           
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081