BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                   SB 286|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 286
          Author:   Aanestad (R)
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE  :  10-0, 4/14/09
          AYES:  Pavley, Cogdill, Hollingsworth, Huff, Kehoe, Leno,  
            Padilla, Simitian, Wiggins, Wolk
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Benoit

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  10-0, 4/27/09
          AYES:  Kehoe, Cox, Corbett, DeSaulnier, Leno, Oropeza,  
            Runner, Walters, Wolk, Yee
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Denham, Hancock, Wyland


           SUBJECT  :    Department of Fish and Game:  scientific  
          collector's permits

           SOURCE  :     Natural Resource Scientists 


           DIGEST :    This bill allows the Department of Fish and Game  
          to issue an organization-based permit for the scientific  
          collection of plants and animals, rather than issuing  
          individual permits to each person working under an  
          organization on a specific project.

           ANALYSIS  :    Under existing law, Section 1001 of the Fish  
          and Game Code allows the Department of Fish and Game (DFG)  
          to take plants and animals for scientific, propagation,  
          public health, safety, prevention, relief of suffering, or  
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          law enforcement purposes.

          Section 1002 allows the department to issue permits,  
          subject to restrictions and regulations, to take or possess  
          plants and animals for scientific, educational, or  
          propagation purposes. These permits may be valid for 24  
          months and cost a base fee of $30, adjusted for inflation  
          (currently $57.75).

          This bill allows DFG to issue permits for the collection of  
          plants and animals to a California certified small business  
          or to an aquarium accredited by the Association of Zoos and  
          Aquariums in the name of the principal scientific  
          investigator or the company.  This organization-based group  
          permit would cover temporary employees or volunteers if the  
          permittee has notified DFG of their names.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  Yes

          According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

                          Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions                2009-10     2010-11     
           2011-12   Fund  
          Reduced fee revenues                         Unknown, up to  
          $100 per year                                Special *

          *Fish and Game Preservation Fund

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  4/29/09)

          Natural Resource Scientists (source) 
          Family Water Alliance
          SeaWorld San Diego


           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    According to the author's office,  
          "Temporary employees, usually volunteers, aren't hired  
          until the start of the field project.  However, it usually  
          takes 3-4 months for the Department of Fish and Game to  
          approve the Scientific Collector's Permits.  If a temporary  
          employee resigns, the permits go with the employee, and do  







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          not remain with the Principal Scientific Investigator, or  
          with the company who paid for the permit.  This forces the  
          company, or the investigator, to start all over."

          The Family Water Alliance agrees that the permitting  
          process for individual employees can be lengthy and  
          indeterminate, often taking months before approvals are  
          obtained. This circumstance affects the timeliness and  
          cost-effectiveness of projects. 


          CTW:nl  4/29/09   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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