BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1709 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 1709 (Frazier) As Amended April 21, 2014 Majority vote WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 14-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |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a sunset clause providing that this bill shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.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. AB 1709 Page 2 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 AB 1709 Page 3 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 AB 1709 Page 4