Amended in Assembly March 10, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1844

Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Bigelow, Brough, Dodd, and Wagner)

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begin delete (Coauthor: Senator Berryhill) end delete begin insert ( end insert begin insert Coauthors: Senators Berryhill and Morrell) end insert

February 9, 2016

An act to amend Section 714 of, and to add Sections begin delete 3034 and 7152 end delete begin insert 3034, 7152, and 7152.5 end insert to, the Fish and Game Code, relating to fish and wildlife.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1844, as amended, 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 begin insert specified periods of time, including for end insert 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 begin insert specified periods of time, including for end insert 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 begin delete an unspecified percentage end delete begin insert end insert begin insert 25% end insert for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United begin delete States end delete begin insert States, was honorably discharged, end insert and is a resident of California.

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Under existing law, the department issues sport fishing report cards and validations upon payment of specified fees that authorize various activities relating to the taking and possession of amphibians, reptiles, and fish for purposes other than profit.

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This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of California and by 50% for a person who meets those requirements and who also has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.

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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 amphibians 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 begin delete amphibia end delete begin insert amphibians end insert
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.

(i) (1) The department shall reduce the fee required to obtain
a lifetime sportsman’s license issued pursuant to subdivision (a)
by begin delete ___ end delete begin insert 25 end insert percent for a person who is a veteran of the Armed
Forces of the United begin delete States. end delete begin insert States and who was honorably
discharged. end 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.

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 begin delete ____ end delete
begin insert 25 end insert percent for a person who meets the following requirements:

(1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United
begin delete States. end delete begin insert States and was honorably discharged. end insert

(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
begin delete ____ end delete begin insert 25 end insert percent for a person who meets the following
requirements:

(1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United
begin delete States. end delete begin insert States and was honorably discharged. end insert

(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.

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begin insert SEC. 4. end insert   

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begin insert Section 7152.5 is added to the end insert begin insert Fish and Game Code end insert begin insert ,
to read: end insert

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begin insert 7152.5. end insert   

(a) The department shall reduce the fee, including the
fee specified in subdivision (e) of Section 7149.2, required to obtain
any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement
required in addition to a valid sport fishing license to take an
amphibian, reptile, or fish by 25 percent for a person who meets
the following requirements:

(1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United
States and was honorably discharged.

(2) The person is a resident of California.

(b) The department shall reduce the fee, including the fee
specified in subdivision (e) of Section 7149.2, required to obtain
any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement
required in addition to a valid sport fishing license to take an
amphibian, reptile, or fish by 50 percent for a person who meets
the following requirements:

(1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United
States and was honorably discharged.

(2) The person has a 50 percent or greater service-connected
disability.

(3) The person is a resident of California.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (g) of Section 6596.1,
subdivision (c) of Section 7149.8, or any other law, the commission
shall not increase the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report
card, validation, or other entitlement for a person not receiving
the discount pursuant to this section to recover the cost of
providing the discount.

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