BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1434
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Date of Hearing: June 17, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE
Anthony Rendon, Chair
SB 1434 (Wolk) - As Amended: June 11, 2014
SENATE VOTE : 34-0
SUBJECT : Funding of Fish and Wildlife Programs: State Duck
Stamp Account Advisory Committee
SUMMARY : Establishes priorities and requires consultation with
advisory committees for state expenditures of federal grant
money made available to the state pursuant to the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act, and requires a State Duck Stamp
Account Advisory Committee to review and provide comments to the
Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) on all proposed projects
funded from that Account. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires expenditure of all federal grant moneys made
available to the state pursuant to the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act to be consistent with that Act. Additionally
requires DFW in applying for federal grant monies pursuant to
that Act to give priority to projects that fulfill one or more
of the following purposes:
a) Management of DFW's wildlife areas or other lands
open to the public for hunting and other public priority
uses, including fishing, wildlife viewing, wildlife
photography, conservation education, and fish and
wildlife research.
b) Conservation of or scientific research concerning
wildlife or wildlife habitat.
c) Support of DFW's hunting-related programs, including
hunter education, public access, and target-shooting.
2)Requires DFW to post a brief description of the projects or
programs funded by moneys received pursuant to the Federal Aid
in Wildlife Restoration Act on its Internet Web site,
including a budget for each project or program.
3)Requires DFW to consult with any of the advisory committees,
including the State Duck Stamp Account Advisory Committee, the
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Upland Game Bird Account Advisory Committee, and the Big Game
Management Account Advisory Committee, regarding any projects
funded by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act that are
relevant to that committee.
4)Requires an advisory committee, as determined by DFW, to
review and provide comments to DFW on all proposed projects
funded by the State Duck Stamp Account.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Under federal law, known as the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act, certain revenues collected from the federal
excise sales tax on certain arms and ammunitions, is made
available to the states. 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.
2)States legislative findings that the cost 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 those purposes, and
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.
3)Requires that an advisory committee, as determined by DFW,
shall review and provide comments to DFW on all proposed
projects to be funded from the Upland Game Bird Account.
4)Requires that an advisory committee, as determined by DFW,
shall review and provide comments to DFW on all proposed
projects funded from the Big Game Management Account.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : The author indicates she has introduced this bill to
provide additional oversight, accountability, and transparency
for funds generated by the Pittman-Robertson Act to ensure a
more reliable funding source for the management of state
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wildlife areas and DFW's hunting-related programs.
This bill would require that state expenditures of Federal Aid
in Wildlife Restoration Act funds (commonly known as
Pittman-Robertson) made available to the state are consistent
with the federal Act. The federal law authorizes a state to
fund up to 75% of the cost of certain projects related to
wildlife restoration, conservation or management and hunting
related programs which are submitted to the Secretary of the
Interior for approval. The federal Act authorizes the funding
to be used by states for: 1) restoration, conservation,
management and enhancement of wild bird and mammal populations;
2) acquiring and managing wildlife habitats; 3) providing public
uses that benefit from wildlife resources; 3) educating hunters
on conservation ethics and safety; and 4) constructing,
operating, and managing recreational firearm shooting and
archery ranges. This bill would also require that DFW consult on
these federal expenditures with stakeholder advisory committees
for the Duck Stamp, Upland Game Bird, and Big Game Management
Accounts, which are frequently used as the source of the 25%
match for projects or programs funded with Pittman-Robertson
funds.
This bill would also codify the State Duck Stamp Account
Advisory Committee, which has operated informally for years.
The language in this bill establishing the advisory committee is
similar to language already in the code establishing the Upland
Game Bird and Big Game Management Account Advisory Committees.
Support Arguments : The California Waterfowl Association and
other supporters emphasize this bill would require expenditure
of Pittman-Robertson monies to be subject to review and comment
by stakeholder groups, require that the expenditures be
consistent with the Act, and provide greater transparency of how
the funds are spent. The California Rice Commission notes that
the federal grant dollars are important for funding both
hunting-related and wildlife conservation efforts such as the
operation and maintenance of state wildlife management areas and
other wetland areas adjacent to rice fields which provide
critical habitat for waterfowl.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
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California Waterfowl Association (sponsor)
California Rice Commission
California Sportsmen's Lobby, Inc.
Ducks Unlimited
Outdoor Sportsmen's Coalition of California
Safari Club International
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096