BILL NUMBER: SB 1434	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  259
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 22, 2014
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 22, 2014
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 11, 2014
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 7, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 11, 2014
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 22, 2014
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 21, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wolk

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add Sections 711.1 and 3702.1 to the Fish and Game Code,
relating to fish and wildlife.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1434, Wolk. Funding of fish and wildlife programs: State Duck
Stamp Account advisory committee.
   (1) Existing federal law imposes a sales tax on the sale of bows
and arrows, ammunition, and certain firearms. Existing federal law,
the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, makes certain revenues
collected from those taxes available to the states by requiring the
Secretary of the Interior to apportion an amount available to each
state according to a specified formula. The federal act authorizes a
state, through its fish and wildlife department, to submit programs
or projects for wildlife restoration and hunter safety education to
the Secretary of the Interior for funding of up to 75% of the cost of
those programs or projects from the amount apportioned to the state.

   Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife in
the Natural Resources Agency, administered by the Director of Fish
and Wildlife. Existing law requires the department, with approval of
the Fish and Game Commission, to perform acts as may be necessary to
the conduct and establishment of cooperative wildlife-restoration
projects, in compliance with the federal act and regulations adopted
pursuant to the federal act. Under existing law, the Legislature has
made findings that the costs of hunting programs shall be provided
out of hunting revenues, reimbursements, and federal funds received
for hunting programs, and from other funds appropriated by the
Legislature for this purpose. The Legislature has also made findings
that these revenues, reimbursements, and federal funds shall not be
used to support commercial fishing programs, free hunting and fishing
license programs, or nongame fish and wildlife programs.
   This bill would require the expenditure of all federal grant
moneys made available to the state under the federal act to be
consistent with that federal act. The bill would require the
department, in applying for these federal grant moneys, to give
priority to projects that fulfill one or more specified purposes. The
bill would require the department to post a brief description of
projects or programs funded by moneys received from the federal act
on its Internet Web site. The bill would require the department to
consult with specified hunting advisory committees regarding all
relevant projects funded by the federal act.
   (2) Under existing law, funds derived from state duck hunting
validations, state duck stamps, and certain related items are
required to be deposited in the State Duck Stamp Account in the Fish
and Game Preservation Fund. Existing law provides that moneys in the
account are to be used, among other things, for projects or
endowments approved by the Fish and Game Commission for the purpose
of protecting, preserving, restoring, enhancing, and developing
migratory waterfowl breeding and wintering habitat, evaluating
habitat projects, and conducting waterfowl resource assessments and
other waterfowl-related research.
   This bill would require an advisory committee, as determined by
the department, to review and provide comments to the department on
all proposed projects funded by the State Duck Stamp Account to help
ensure that specified requirements pertaining to the State Duck Stamp
Account have been met.



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

  SECTION 1.  Section 711.1 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:
   711.1.  (a) The expenditure of all federal grant moneys made
available to the state pursuant to the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 669 et seq.) shall be consistent with
that act.
   (b) In applying for federal grant moneys available pursuant to the
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, the department shall give
priority to projects that fulfill one or more of the following
purposes:
   (1) Management of the department's wildlife areas or other lands
open to the public for hunting and other public priority uses listed
in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 1745.
   (2) Conservation of, or scientific research concerning, wildlife
or wildlife habitat.
   (3) Support of the department's hunting-related programs,
including hunter education, public access, and target shooting.
   (c) The department shall post a brief description of projects or
programs funded by moneys received pursuant to the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act on its Internet Web site. The description
shall include information about the budget of each project or
program.
   (d) The department shall consult with any of the advisory
committees established pursuant to Sections 3684, 3702.1, and 3953
regarding all projects funded by the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act that are relevant to the committee or committees.
  SEC. 2.  Section 3702.1 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:
   3702.1.  An advisory committee, as determined by the department,
that includes interested nonprofit organizations that have goals and
objectives directly related to the management and conservation of
waterfowl species and primarily represent the interests of persons
licensed pursuant to Section 3031 shall review and provide comments
to the department on all proposed projects funded from the State Duck
Stamp Account to help ensure that the requirements of Sections 3702,
3703, and 3704 have been met.