BILL NUMBER: SB 987	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Monning

                        FEBRUARY 12, 2014

   An act to add Section 710.9 to the Fish and Game Code, and to
amend Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, relating to
wildlife.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 987, as introduced, Monning. Department of Fish and Wildlife:
California Sea Otter Fund.
   Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife and
sets forth the duties of that department. Existing law, until January
1, 2016, establishes the California Sea Otter Fund and allows
taxpayers to designate on their tax returns that a specified amount
in excess of their tax liability be transferred to the fund. Existing
law requires a specified portion of money in that fund, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, be allocated to the Department of
Fish and Wildlife for the purposes of establishing a sea otter fund
to be used within the department's index coding system for increased
investigation, prevention, and enforcement actions.
   This bill would authorize the department to take appropriate
measures to encourage taxpayers to make contributions on their tax
returns to the California Sea Otter Fund and would also authorize the
department to disseminate information to the public about the status
of California sea otters. The bill would require that costs incurred
by the department in carrying out these activities be paid for with
money allocated to the department from the fund.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 710.9 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:
   710.9.  (a) The department may take appropriate measures to
encourage taxpayers to make contributions as a voluntary checkoff on
a tax return to the California Sea Otter Fund established in Article
5.6 (commencing with Section 18754) of Chapter 3 of Part 10.2 of
Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (b) The department may disseminate information to the public
concerning the status of California sea otters.
   (c) The costs incurred by the department in carrying out the
activities authorized by this section shall, upon appropriation by
the Legislature, be paid for with money allocated to the department
pursuant to Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
  SEC. 2.  Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is
amended to read:
   18754.2.  (a) All money transferred to the California Sea Otter
Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be allocated as
follows:
   (1) To the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller for
reimbursement of all costs incurred by the Franchise Tax Board and
the Controller in connection with their duties under this article.
   (2) Fifty percent of the revenues remaining after allocation
pursuant to paragraph (1), to the Department of Fish and 
Game   Wildlife  for the purposes of establishing a
sea otter fund to be used within the department's index coding
system for increased investigation, prevention, and enforcement
 actions.   actions and for the purposes of
carrying out the activities authorized in Section 710.9 of the Fish
and Game Code. 
   (3) Fifty percent of the revenues remaining after allocation
pursuant to paragraph (1), to the California Coastal Conservancy for
competitive grants and contracts to public agencies and nonprofit
organizations for research, science, protection, projects, or
programs related to the Federal Sea Otter Recovery Plan or improving
the nearshore ocean ecosystem, including, but not limited to, program
activities to reduce sea otter mortality. The projects or programs
may also address pathogens and water and wastewater treatment
technologies.
   (b) The California Coastal Conservancy shall solicit available
federal, private, matching, and other dollars to maximize or leverage
funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (3) to provide the greatest
benefit for sea otters.
   (c) The California Coastal Conservancy may enter into interagency
agreements with public agencies for purposes of paragraph (3).