BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 1709
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          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
          AB 1709 (Frazier)
          As Amended  April 21, 2014
          Majority vote 

           WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE        14-0                  
          APPROPRIATIONS      17-0        
          
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          |Ayes:|Rendon, Bigelow, Allen,   |Ayes:|Gatto, Bigelow,           |
          |     |Bocanegra, Dahle,         |     |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian  |
          |     |Frazier, Beth Gaines,     |     |Calderon, Campos,         |
          |     |Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez,   |     |Donnelly, Eggman, Gomez,  |
          |     |Gray, Patterson,          |     |Holden, Jones, Linder,    |
          |     |Rodriguez, Yamada         |     |Pan, Quirk,               |
          |     |                          |     |Ridley-Thomas, Wagner,    |
          |     |                          |     |Weber                     |
          |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
          |     |                          |     |                          |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
           SUMMARY  :  Expands the age eligibility for purchase of a  
          lower-cost junior hunting license to persons under 18 years of  
          age, instead of under 16 years of age.  Specifically,  this bill  :

          1)Requires that a hunting license be issued to a resident of  
            this state who is 18 years of age or older upon payment of a  
            base fee of $31.25, and to a resident or nonresident who is  
            under 18 years of age for a base fee of $8.25.

          2)Requires that a hunting license be issued to a nonresident who  
            is 18 years of age or older upon payment of a base fee of  
            $108.50.

          3)Includes a sunset clause providing that this bill shall remain  
            in effect only until January 1, 2020, and as of that date is  
            repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted  
            before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Requires that a hunting license be issued to a resident of  
            this state who is 16 years of age or older upon payment of a  
            base fee of $31.25, and to a resident or nonresident who is  
            under 16 years of age for a base fee of $8.25.








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          2)Requires that a hunting license be issued to a nonresident who  
            is 16 years of age or older upon payment of a base fee of  
            $108.50.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Decrease in annual Department of Fish and  
          Wildlife (DFW) revenue in the range of $400,000 (special fund),  
          potentially offset to some extent by increases in junior hunting  
          license sales.  This figure includes:

          a)An estimated $270,000 reduction in hunting license revenue  
            (Fish and Game Preservation Fund.)

          b)An estimated $ 37,500 reduction in California (CA) Duck  
            Validation stamps (CA Duck Stamp Account.)

          c)An estimated $46,000 reduction in CA Upland Game Bird  
            Validations (CA Upland Game Bird Account.)

          d)An estimated $46,000 reduction in the Wildlife Area Hunting  
            Pass (Fish and Game Preservation Fund.)

          Under existing law, any person hunting under the authority of a  
          junior hunting license is exempt from purchasing CA Duck  
          Validation stamps, CA Upland Game Bird Validations and Wildlife  
          Area Hunting Passes.  Sixteen and Seventeen year olds currently  
          pay $45.93 per hunting license.  This bill will reduce that  
          amount to $11.88.  

           COMMENTS  :   This bill revises the eligibility age to purchase a  
          junior hunting license to include 16 and 17 year olds, who are  
          currently required to purchase a higher cost adult hunting  
          license.  The author of this bill states that extending junior  
          hunting license eligibility to persons under 18 years of age  
          will allow young people ages 16 and 17 to take advantage of  
          special hunting opportunities offered to junior hunters through  
          hunting outreach programs, and will make hunting activities  
          available to these young people at a reduced price.  DFW data  
          shows that junior hunting license purchases have been declining  
          since 2011.  This bill seeks to increase the number of junior  
          hunting licenses sold.  According to background information  
          provided by the author, similar legislation enacted in Colorado  
          was successful in increasing the number of junior hunting  
          licenses sold in that state.  Colorado State's analysis of their  








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          bill, however, projected that license revenues would decrease,  
          because the projected increase in the number of junior licenses  
          sold would not be enough to offset the loss of revenues from the  
          sale of adult licenses.  Whether that revenue reduction was  
          actually experienced in Colorado or not is unknown. 

          The author notes that this bill will help keep costs low for  
          families and individuals who wish to continue hunting as a  
          recreational activity, and will offer these young people special  
          hunting opportunities that promote knowledge of conservation and  
          hunting safety, while also helping to develop and sustain  
          outreach programs.  The author and sponsors also note that this  
          bill aligns hunting license age requirements with other  
          California laws that consider persons age 18 years and older as  
          adults.

          The sponsors and author assert that by encouraging young people  
          ages 16 and 17 who do not currently purchase a hunting license  
          to purchase one at the lower junior license fee level, this bill  
          could in the long run increase license revenue to DFW,  
          especially if these new hunters continue to purchase hunting  
          licenses at the adult price after they turn 18.  However, in  
          order to make up for the loss of license revenue currently  
          received by DFW, at least initially, over three times as many 16  
          and 17 year olds would need to purchase a hunting license than  
          currently do to make up the difference. 

          Supporters assert this bill will encourage more young people to  
          purchase junior hunting licenses, giving them an opportunity to  
          participate in educational hunting programs designed for youth  
          that promote an appreciation for wildlife conservation and  
          hunting traditions.  They note that both cost and access to  
          lands for hunting have been barriers to greater participation in  
          hunting which this bill will help to address. 

          Opponents object to the lowering of fees for hunting licenses  
          which are issued for the privilege of taking wildlife which are  
          valuable natural resources of California, and feel that hunting  
          license fees are already too low.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)  
          319-2096                                               FN:  
          0003602








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