California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1844

Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher

(Coauthor: Senator Berryhill)

February 9, 2016

An act to amend Section 714 of, and to add Sections 3034 and 7152 to, the Fish and Game Code, relating to fish and wildlife.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1844, as introduced, Gallagher. Hunting and fishing licenses: reduced license fees: veterans.

Under existing law, a hunting license grants the privilege to take birds and mammals. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue a hunting license for a term of one year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a lifetime hunting license, upon payment of a fee, to eligible California residents that authorizes a person to take birds and mammals for the life of the person, as prescribed. Under existing law, a sport fishing license grants the privilege to take fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Existing law requires the department to issue a sport fishing license for the period of a calendar year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a lifetime sport fishing license, upon payment of a fee, to eligible California residents that authorizes a person to take fish, reptiles, and amphibians for the life of the person, as prescribed. Existing law requires the department to issue lifetime sportsman’s licenses, upon payment of a fee, to eligible California residents that authorizes a person to take birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians for the life of the person, as prescribed.

This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain the above-described licenses by an unspecified percentage for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and is a resident of California.

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 714 of the Fish and Game Code is
amended to read:

714.  

(a) In addition to Section 3031, 3031.2, 7149.05, or
7149.2 and notwithstanding Section 3037, the department shall
issue lifetime sportsman’s licenses pursuant to this section. A
lifetime sportsman’s license authorizes the taking of birds,
mammals, fish, reptiles, or begin delete amphibia end delete begin insert amphibians end insert anywhere in this
state in accordance with law for purposes other than profit for the
life of the person to whom issued unless revoked for a violation
of this code or regulations adopted pursuant to this code. A lifetime
sportsman’s license is not transferable. A lifetime sportsman’s
license does not include any special tags, stamps, or other
entitlements.

(b) A lifetime sportsman’s license may be issued to residents,
as follows:

(1) To a person 62 years of age or over upon payment of a base
fee of seven hundred thirty dollars ($730).

(2) To a person 40 years of age or over and less than 62 years
of age upon payment of a base fee of one thousand eighty dollars
($1,080).

(3) To a person 10 years of age or over and less than 40 years
of age upon payment of a base fee of one thousand two hundred
dollars ($1,200).

(4) To a person less than 10 years of age upon payment of a
base fee of seven hundred thirty dollars ($730).

(c) This section does not require a person less than 16 years of
age to obtain a license to take fish, reptiles, or amphibia for
purposes other than profit or to obtain a license to take birds or
mammals, except as required by law.

(d) This section does not exempt an applicant for a license from
meeting other qualifications or requirements otherwise established
by law for the privilege of sport hunting or sport fishing.

(e) Upon payment of a base fee of four hundred forty-five dollars
($445), a person holding a lifetime hunting license or lifetime
sportsman’s license shall be issued annually one deer tag
application pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4332 and five
wild pig tags issued pursuant to Section 4654. Lifetime privileges
issued pursuant to this subdivision are not transferable.

(f) Upon payment of a base fee of two hundred ten dollars
($210), a person holding a lifetime hunting license or lifetime
sportsman’s license shall be entitled annually to the privileges
afforded to a person holding a state duck stamp or validation issued
pursuant to Section 3700.1 and an upland game bird stamp or
validation issued pursuant to Section 3682.1. Lifetime privileges
issued pursuant to this subdivision are not transferable.

(g) The base fees specified in this section are applicable
commencing January 1, 2004, and shall be adjusted annually
thereafter pursuant to Section 713.

(h) The commission shall adjust the amount of the fees specified
in subdivision (g), as necessary, to fully recover, but not exceed,
all reasonable administrative implementation costs of the
department and the commission relating to those licenses.

begin insert

(i) (1) The department shall reduce the fee required to obtain
a lifetime sportsman’s license issued pursuant to subdivision (a)
by ___ percent for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces
of the United States.

end insert begin insert

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (h), the commission shall not
increase the fees required to obtain a lifetime sportsman’s license
for a person not receiving the discount pursuant to paragraph (1)
to recover the cost of providing the discount.

end insert

SEC. 2.  

Section 3034 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:

3034.  

(a) The department shall reduce the fee required to obtain
hunting licenses specified in Sections 3031 and 3031.2 by ____
percent for a person who meets the following requirements:

(1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United
States.

(2) The person is a resident of California.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 3031 and
subdivision (f) of Section 3031.2, the commission shall not increase
the fees required to obtain the licenses specified in Sections 3031
and 3031.2 for a person not receiving the discount pursuant to this
section to recover the cost of providing the discount.

SEC. 3.  

Section 7152 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:

7152.  

(a) The department shall reduce the fee required to obtain
sport fishing licenses specified in Sections 7149.05 and 7149.2 by
____ percent for a person who meets the following requirements:

(1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United
States.

(2) The person is a resident of California.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (e) of Section 7149.05 or
Section 7149.2, the commission shall not increase the fees required
to obtain the licenses specified in Sections 7149.05 and 7149.2 for
a person not receiving the discount pursuant to this section to
recover the cost of providing the discount.