BILL NUMBER: SB 183	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER   240
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   AUGUST 6, 1997
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   AUGUST 6, 1997
	PASSED THE SENATE   JULY 25, 1997
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   JULY 21, 1997
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 23, 1997
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 11, 1997
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 10, 1997

INTRODUCED BY  Senator Thompson

                        JANUARY 22, 1997

   An act to amend Sections 7380 and 7381 of the Fish and Game Code,
relating to fish, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect
immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 183, M. Thompson.  Fish.
   Existing law requires any person taking steelhead trout in inland
waters to have a steelhead trout catch report-restoration card issued
by the Department of Fish and Game and requires cardholders to
record certain information on the card relative to fishing.  Existing
law restricts the use of the revenue from the fees for the cards,
until July 1, 1997, to monitoring, restoration, and enhancement of
steelhead trout resources.  Existing law required the department to
make a report to the Legislature by July 1, 1996, regarding the
implementation of the catch report-restoration card program.
   This bill would specify that cardholders shall record the required
information on the card whenever the cardholder finishes fishing for
the day, moves to another river or stream, or retains steelhead
trout.
   This bill would extend the restriction on the use of the revenues
for those purposes until July 1, 2002, and would require a report to
the Legislature on or before July 1, 2000.
   This bill would also declare that it is to take effect immediately
as an urgency statute.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 7380 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to
read:
   7380.  (a) In addition to a valid California sportfishing license
issued pursuant to Section 7149 and any applicable sport license
stamp issued pursuant to this code, after January 1, 1993, a person
taking steelhead trout in inland waters, shall have in his or her
possession a nontransferable steelhead trout catch report-restoration
card issued by the department.  The cardholder shall record certain
fishing information on the card as designated by the department.  The
information shall be recorded whenever the cardholder finishes
fishing for the day, moves to another river or stream, or retains
steelhead trout.
   (b) The cost of the card shall be three dollars ($3), as adjusted
pursuant to Section 713.  The funds received by the department from
the sale of the card shall be  deposited in the Fish and Game
Preservation Fund and shall be available for expenditure upon
appropriation by the Legislature.  The department shall maintain the
internal accountability necessary to ensure that all restrictions and
requirements pertaining to the expenditure of these funds are met.
   (c) The commission shall adopt regulations necessary to implement
this section.  These regulations shall include, but not be limited
to, procedures necessary to obtain appropriate steelhead trout
resources management information, a requirement that the card contain
a statement explaining potential uses of the funds received as
authorized by Section 7381, and a voluntary return of the cards to
the department.
  SEC. 2.  Section 7381 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

   7381.  (a) Revenue received pursuant to Section 7380 may only be
expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to monitor, restore,
or enhance steelhead trout resources consistent with Sections 6901
and 6902, and to administer the catch report-restoration card
program.  The department shall submit all proposed expenditures,
including proposed expenditures for administrative purposes, to the
Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout for review and
comment prior to submitting a request for inclusion of the
appropriation in the annual Budget Bill.  The committee may recommend
revisions in any proposed expenditure to the Legislature and the
commission.
   (b) The department shall report to the Legislature on or before
July 1, 2000, regarding the implementation of the catch
report-restoration card program, the projects undertaken using
revenues derived pursuant to that program, the benefits derived, and
its recommendation regarding whether the catch report-restoration
card requirement should be continued.
   (c) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2002, and, as
of January 1, 2003, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
which becomes effective on or before January 1, 2003, deletes or
extends the date on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
  SEC. 3.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   Without this legislation, existing restrictions on the use of
revenues from the steelhead trout catch report-restoration card will
expire on July 1, 1997.  In order to continue to preserve these funds
and commit their use to monitor, restore, or enhance steelhead trout
resources as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act take
effect immediately.