BILL NUMBER: SB 987	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 24, 2014

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 amended, 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
  measures, including, but not limited to, public
outreach activities,  to encourage taxpayers to make
contributions  as a   by  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 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 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  
State  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   State  Coastal
Conservancy shall solicit available federal, private, matching, and
other dollars to maximize or leverage funds appropriated pursuant to
paragraph (3)  of subdivision (a)  to provide the greatest
benefit for sea otters.
   (c) The  California   State  Coastal
Conservancy may enter into interagency agreements with public
agencies for purposes of paragraph (3)  of subdivision (a) 
.