BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
571 (Saldana)
Hearing Date: 08/17/2009 Amended: 08/17/2009
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy Policy Vote: NR&W 7-2
AB 571 (Saldana)
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BILL SUMMARY: This bill creates a new supplemental fee to be
paid by commercial spiny lobster fisherman. Proceeds from the
fee will be expended by the Department of Fish and Game on
projects to improve the sustainability of the spiny lobster
fishery. The bill also creates an advisory committee to provide
input to the Department on expenditure of the fee revenues.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Fund
Fee revenues ($31) ($62) ($62) Special
*
Fee administration $5 $9 $9 Special
*
Fishery management $26 $53 $53 Special
*
projects
Program management and $15 $30 $30 Special
**
other administration
* Fish and Game Preservation Fund, new dedicated account.
** Fish and Game Preservation Fund, Non-dedicated account.
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STAFF COMMENTS:
Under current law, commercial anglers taking spiny lobsters in
waters of the state are required to have a permit from the
Department of Fish and Game. The current commercial permit fee
is $333 and the permit fee for a fishing boat crew member is
$158. The Department has the authority to limit the number of
permits issued to protect the sustainability of the spiny
lobster fishery. The Department issues approximately 200
commercial spiny lobster fishing permits per year. Proceeds from
permit fees are deposited in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund
Non-dedicated account and are used for administrative costs,
AB 571 (Saldana)
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fishery management, and enforcement activities.
This bill establishes a $300 supplemental fee, to be collected
in addition to the existing permit fee. Revenues from the
supplemental fee will be deposited in a new account within the
Fish and Game Preservation Fund. The Department is authorized to
spend revenues from the supplemental fee, upon appropriation of
the Legislature and with input from a new advisory board, for
projects and programs to improve lobster sustainability and
management. The bill caps administrative expenses at 15 percent
of expenditures.
The bill establishes the Lobster Management Enhancement Advisory
Committee, to be made up of representatives of commercial
lobster fisherman, other anglers, and a scientist appointed by
the Director of Fish and Game. The Advisory Committee is
required to develop a plan that prioritizes expenditures that
support long-term sustainability of the spiny lobster fishery
and to recommend projects and programs to the Department for
funding.
The new supplemental fee is expected to raise about $60,000 per
year. Committee staff estimates that costs for collecting the
supplemental fee and providing staffing to support the
expenditure of funds from the new account will be about $40,000
per year. Because the bill caps administrative costs at 15
percent of expenditures ($9,000 per year), the bill will require
the expenditure of funds from the Fish and Game Preservation
Fund, Non-dedicated account to cover the shortfall.