BILL NUMBER: SB 987 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 12, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 3, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 24, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Senator Monning
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Stone)
FEBRUARY 12, 2014
An act to add Section 710.9 to the Fish and Game Code, to
add Section 31122 to the Public Resources 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. California Sea Otter Fund: Department
of Fish and Wildlife: State Coastal Conservancy.
Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife and
sets forth the duties of that department. Existing law establishes
the State Coastal Conservancy with prescribed powers and
responsibilities for implementing a program of agricultural land
protection, area restoration, and resource enhancement within the
coastal zone, as defined.
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 money in that fund,
upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be allocated to the
Department of Fish and Wildlife for the purposes of establishing a
sea otter fund, as prescribed, fund to be
used within the department's index coding system for increased
investigation, prevention, and enforcement actions, and to the
State Coastal Conservancy for competitive grants and contracts for
research, projects, and programs related to the Federal Sea Otter
Recovery Plan or improving the nearshore ocean ecosystem.
With respect to the portion of money allocated to the department
upon appropriation by the Legislature, this bill would instead
specify that the money be allocated to the department for purposes of
establishing a sea otter fund to be used for sea otter conservation,
including for increased investigation, prevention, and enforcement
actions related to sea otter mortality. The bill would also require
money in the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be
allocated to the department and the conservancy for public outreach
activities that encourage taxpayers to make contributions by
voluntary checkoff on a tax return to the fund.
This bill would require the department and the conservancy 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 and the conservancy to disseminate
information to the public about the status of California sea otters.
The bill would require that costs incurred by the department and the
conservancy in carrying out these activities be paid for, upon
appropriation, with money allocated to the department and the
conservancy 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 shall take appropriate measures,
including, but not limited to, public outreach activities, to
encourage taxpayers to make contributions 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 required and 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 31122 is added to the Public
Resources Code, to read:
31122. (a) The conservancy shall take appropriate measures,
including, but not limited to, public outreach activities, to
encourage taxpayers to make contributions 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 conservancy may disseminate information to the public
concerning the status of California sea otters.
(c) The costs incurred by the conservancy in carrying out the
activities required and authorized by this section shall, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, be paid for with money allocated to
the conservancy pursuant to Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code.
SEC. 3. SECTION 1. 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 for sea
otter conservation, including, but not limited to, for increased
investigation, prevention, and enforcement actions related to sea
otter mortality , and for the purposes of
carrying out the activities required and authorized in Section 710.9
of the Fish and Game Code. public outreach activities
th at encourage taxpayers to make contributions by
voluntary checkoff on a tax return to the California Sea Otter Fund.
(3) Fifty percent of the revenues remaining after allocation
pursuant to paragraph (1), to the 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 , and for
the purposes of carrying out the activities required and
authorized in Section 31122 of the Public Resources Code.
public outreach activities that encourage taxpayers to make
contributions by voluntary checkoff on a tax return to the California
Sea Otter Fund. The projects or programs may also address
pathogens and water and wastewater treatment technologies.
(b) The 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 State Coastal Conservancy may enter into interagency
agreements with public agencies for purposes of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a).