BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 987
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 6, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 987 (Monning) - As Amended: May 12, 2014
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 12-0
Revenue and Taxation 7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill revises and clarifies the use of funds collected by
contributions to the California Sea Otter Fund (Fund) collected
from the voluntary tax check-off. Specifically, this bill:
1)Authorizes funds allocated to the Department of Fish and
Wildlife (DFW) to be used for sea otter conservation,
including increased investigation, prevention and enforcement
actions related to sea otter mortality.
2)Authorizes funds allocated to the Department of Fish and
Wildlife (DFW) and the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) to be
used for public outreach activities to encourage taxpayers to
make contributions on their tax returns.
FISCAL EFFECT
Potential minor cost pressures of less than $50,000 annually to
the Fund for DFW and SCC to conduct public outreach activities.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. According to the author, recently there has been
confusion regarding the ability of DFW and SCC to use moneys
received from the Sea Otter fund to publicize the tax
check-off and encourage taxpayers to contribute. This bill
clarifies that use and also specifies that DFW's expenditures
from the fund must be related to sea otter conservation and
sea otter mortality.
SB 987
Page 2
2)Background. The California Sea Otter Fund was created in 2006
and is funded through a voluntary taxpayer check-off on state
tax returns.
Half of the revenues raised, less the Franchise Tax Board's
collection costs, are allocated to the DFW for increased
investigation, prevention, and enforcement actions. The other
half is allocated to the conservancy for competitive grants
and contracts for research, science, ecosystem protection and
programs related to the Federal Sea Otter Recovery Plan.
Between 2007 and 2013, more than $2 million was contributed by
California taxpayers through the tax return check-off. In
2013, taxpayers contributed $307,544 to the Fund.
To date the Fund has supported the advancement of a long-term
study on sea otter health, including chemical and pathogen
pollution, and has supported other projects benefitting sea
otter conservation.
The Sea Otter tax check-off sunsets January 1, 2016.
3)Sea Otters. Sea otters are listed as a threatened species
under the federal endangered species act, and are a fully
protected species under California law. Populations of sea
otters significantly declined in the early 1900's due to
hunting. Currently, DFW scientists estimate that 50% to 60%
of sea otter deaths are the result of diseases, parasites and
toxicants. All sea otters that die in California are examined
at the DFW Marine Wildlife Center in Santa Cruz, a DFW Office
of Spill Prevention and Response facility. This work is
supported variously by the Sea Otter tax check-off, SCC, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and other funding sources.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081