BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1709
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1709 (Frazier)
As Amended August 4, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |76-0 |(May 27, 2014) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 20, |
| | | | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: W., P. & W.
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.
The Senate amendments :
1)Specify that a license issued to a person under 18 years of
age shall be known as a junior hunting license.
2)Allow a person age 16 or 17 who is in possession of a valid
junior hunting license and who is issued an entry permit
pursuant to existing regulations regarding entry permits for
state wildlife areas and cooperatively managed national
wildlife areas, to hunt in the area described in the entry
permit unaccompanied by a person over 18 years of age, but
prohibit them from being accompanied by a person under 16
years of age.
3)Modify the sunset provision in this bill by providing that
this section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2020,
and as of that date is repealed unless a later enacted statute
that is enacted on or before January 1, 2021, deletes or
extends that date.
4)Include a six month delayed operative date providing that this
bill shall not become operative until July 1, 2015.
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
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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.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill expanded 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. A hunting license would be required to 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. Hunting licenses would be issued to nonresidents 18
years of age or older upon payment of a base fee of $108.50.
The Assembly version included 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.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, on-going revenue losses of approximately $270,000
annually until 2020 to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund from
reduced hunting license sales revenue. On-going revenue losses
of approximately $130,000 until 2020 annually to various special
funds from reduced sales of duck stamps, upland game bird
stamps, and wildlife area hunting passes.
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. However, by
making 16 and 17 year olds eligible for a lower cost junior
hunting license, they also become subject to existing regulatory
requirements that apply to junior hunting licenses, such as the
requirement that entry permits to hunt in state wildlife areas
and some national wildlife areas may only be issued to junior
hunting licensees who are accompanied by an adult. The Senate
amendments add a provision allowing 16 and 17 year olds to hunt
at state and national wildlife areas without being accompanied
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by someone over age 18, but prohibiting them from being
accompanied by anyone under 16 years of age. The Senate
amendments also add a six month delayed effective date, and a
corresponding six month extension on the sunset clause.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0004831