BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 197
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 197 (Evans)
As Amended September 3, 2013
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :34-3
WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 10-2
APPROPRIATIONS 13-3
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|Ayes:|Rendon, Bocanegra, Fong, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Frazier, Gatto, Gomez, | |Bradford, |
| |Gonzalez, Gray, | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| |Patterson, Yamada | |Eggman, Gomez, Hall, |
| | | |Holden, Linder, Pan, |
| | | |Quirk, Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Allen, Beth Gaines |Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, Wagner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Extends the sunset date on the commercial fishing
salmon stamp program and related provisions from 2014 to 2019.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Extends the sunset on the Commercial Salmon Trollers
Enhancement and Restoration Program, including the commercial
fishing salmon stamp requirement, from 2014 to 2019.
2)Requires that fees from the sale of commercial fishing salmon
stamps, after deducting the Department of Fish and Wildlife's
(DFW's) administrative costs, shall be deposited in the
Commercial Salmon Stamp Dedicated Subaccount in the Fish and
Game Preservation Fund (FGPF), and provides that any moneys
that were in the previous Commercial Salmon Stamp Account as
of March 14, 2013 and were retained in the FGPF, shall be
transferred to the Commercial Salmon Stamp Dedicated
Subaccount. Makes related technical and conforming changes,
and deletes an obsolete reference from the Fish and Game Code.
EXISTING LAW :
SB 197
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1)Establishes the Commercial Salmon Trollers Enhancement and
Restoration Program. Prohibits the take of salmon for
commercial purposes unless the person taking the salmon has a
current commercial fishing salmon stamp affixed to his or her
commercial fishing license. Exempts persons below the age of 16
or over the age of 70 years from the requirement to purchase a
commercial fishing salmon stamp.
2)Requires DFW to issue commercial fishing salmon stamps upon
payment of a base fee of $85. The salmon stamp fee is increased
for landings over 3,000,000 pounds, not to exceed $260.
3)Requires revenues from the sale of commercial fishing salmon
stamps, after deduction of the DFW's administrative costs for
issuance of the stamps, to be deposited in the Commercial Salmon
Stamp Account in the FGPF. Authorizes monies in the Commercial
Salmon Stamp Account to be expended, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, for new or expanded salmon restoration and
enhancement programs that increase ocean salmon landings. Up to
$30 of the fees from the sale of each salmon stamp are required
to be used by DFW for raising Chinook salmon in hatcheries,
subject to certain limitations. Administrative costs which can
be paid from the Salmon Stamp Account are capped at 15%.
Requires the DFW to post on its Internet Web site an accounting
of projects funded with Commercial Salmon Stamp Account funds,
and the costs to administer the program.
4)Authorizes additional funds received by the DFW on behalf of the
Commercial Salmon Trollers Enhancement and Restoration Program
to be deposited in the Commercial Salmon Stamp Account,
including but not limited to, grants from the federal
government, and other nonfederal sources if the grantor
designates in writing prior to the deposit that the funds are
intended solely for deposit into the Commercial Salmon Stamp
Account.
5)States legislative intent that the DFW use moneys from the sale
of salmon stamps, plus other matching funds provided by the DFW,
to raise two million Chinook salmon annually to yearling size to
help replenish California's salmon resource. Requires that only
one half of the cost for the hatchery production come from the
Commercial Salmon Stamp Account. Prohibits state General Fund
monies from being used for the required match.
SB 197
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6)Establishes the Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee to
recommend programs and a budget for expenditures from the
Commercial Salmon Stamp Account to the DFW, including the
creation and sale of artwork and a collectible salmon stamp for
sale to the public.
7)Provides that all of the above described provisions shall remain
in effect until January 1, 2014, and as of that date are
repealed, unless a later enacted statute enacted before January
1, 2014 extends that date.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)Increased revenue to the Commercial Salmon Stamp Dedicated
Subaccount within the FGPF of between $50,000 and $500,000 per
year for five years. Average revenue over the last four years
has been approximately $225,000 per year.
2)Annual expenditures from the Commercial Salmon Stamp Dedicated
Subaccount in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars.
3)Annual cost pressures in the low hundreds of thousands of
dollars on the non-dedicated portion of the FGPF to provide
the required match for expenditures from the Commercial Salmon
Stamp Dedicated Subaccount for hatchery production of Chinook
salmon.
4)Annual administrative costs of $30,000 from the Commercial
Salmon Stamp Dedicated Subaccount, and annual costs of
approximately $50,000 from the FGPF (non-dedicated portion)
for administrative costs above the 15% cap.
COMMENTS : This bill extends the sunset date on the existing
commercial salmon stamp program from 2014 to 2019 and makes
other technical changes. The commercial salmon fishermen who
pay the stamp fee support the extension of the program, which
provides funding for salmon enhancement and restoration
projects, and also establishes the Commercial Salmon Trollers
Advisory Committee. The commercial salmon industry asserts that
the program is a result of 30 years of legislative efforts by
commercial salmon fishermen who believe the stamp program is
important for improving salmon stock and salmon catch.
SB 197
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Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0002150