BILL NUMBER: SB 987	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  621
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 26, 2014
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 26, 2014
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 15, 2014
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 14, 2014
	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 amend Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code,
relating to wildlife.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 987, 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 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.


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

  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 public outreach activities that 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 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).