BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 17
Page 1
Date of Hearing: July 8, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
SB 17
(Monning) - As Introduced December 1, 2014
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|Policy |Revenue and Taxation |Vote:|9 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill extends, from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2021, the
sunset date for the California Sea Otter Fund (Fund), a
voluntary contribution fund on the Personal Income Tax return.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Minor and absorbable costs to the Department of Fish and
Wildlife and State Coastal Conservancy to administer grant
program; insignificant costs to the Franchise Tax Board.
SB 17
Page 2
2)Estimated GF revenue decreases of approximately $9,000 in each
year the voluntary contribution fund remains on the personal
income tax return.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, reauthorization of the
California Sea Otter Fund will ensure continued support for
research to protect the keystone species. Supporters assert
the Fund has been instrumental in supporting sea otter
research, conservation, and education projects, all of which
are critical for sea otter recovery. Sea Otter Awareness Week
and educational outreach to schools in the Monterey Bay area
have also been funded through the program.
2)Cuteness Overload. California's southern sea otters were
thought to be extinct a century ago. A small population was
discovered in 1938 near Big Sur, and the threatened species
has recovered to between 2,000 and 3,000 otters since then.
Fund donations have supported, among other things, scientific
research into sea otter mortality and identifying diseases,
parasites, and toxins derived from pollution that can lead to
premature sea otter deaths.
3)Worthy Cause, Modest Support. With few exceptions, voluntary
contribution funds remain on the personal income tax return
until they are either repealed or fail to meet their minimum
contribution amount, typically $250,000 and adjusted for
inflation. If the Franchise Tax Board estimates a
contribution fund is likely to fail to meet the minimum
contribution amount, that fund is repealed effective January 1
of that calendar year.
SB 17
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The Fund's minimum contribution requirement for 2015 is
$283,775, and through April the Fund received $228,661. From
2011-2013, the Fund collected between $308,000 and $360,000
per year.
Analysis Prepared by:Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916)
319-2081