BILL ANALYSIS �
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Fran Pavley, Chair |
| 2011-2012 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: AB 2283 HEARING DATE: June 26, 2012
AUTHOR: Portantino URGENCY: No
VERSION: May 25, 2012 CONSULTANT: Katharine Moore
DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: Fish and game.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
The Department of Fish and Game (department) exists within the
Natural Resources Agency and is guided by the policies
established by the Fish and Game Commission (commission) (Fish
and Game Code (FGC) �700 et seq.). The department's mission is
to manage California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant
resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their
ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.
The department is also responsible for the diversified use of
fish and wildlife resources including, for example,
recreational, commercial, scientific and educational purposes.
The department's jurisdiction has evolved from being primarily
focused on managing specific species for hunting and fishing, to
one that includes, for example, resource conservation and
identifying and protecting endangered species. As a result, the
department has expanded its programs and services to address
these new broader responsibilities. The department now has
several major program areas - biodiversity conservation,
including limiting the spread of invasive species; hunting;
fishing; management of department public lands; enforcement;
communications, education and outreach; and oil spill prevention
and response.
Recently, AB 2376 (Huffman, c. 424, Statutes of 2010) initiated
a strategic visioning process for the department and the
commission. The California Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision
was released in April 2012. The Blue Ribbon Citizen's
Commission convened during the visioning process recommended
that the department's name be changed to the Department of Fish
and Wildlife to more accurately reflect its activities. The
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Stakeholder Advisory Group did not recommend a specific name
change, but generally acknowledged that the current name
reflected the historical origins of the department, rather than
accurately reflecting its current mandates.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would:
Rename the Department of Fish and Game, the Department
of Fish and Wildlife and provide that the department can be
referred to as CAL WILD, where appropriate.
Bar the Department from updating information technology
systems, programs, existing supplies, logos, uniforms and
other materials from being updated to the new name until
necessary
Additional changes incorporating the new name of the
department into statute.
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ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author "While the genesis of the Department of
Fish and Game came from regulating the taking of fish and
animals (game) in California to protect species from being over
fished or hunted, the mission of the Department has changed.
While the Department still regulates the taking of specified
fish, fowl, mammals and other animals, the focus is now on
managing these populations and the environments in which they
live. Having the word "game" in the name of the Department
implies that its purpose is only to oversee the killing of
animals in the state. Times have changed and so should the name
of the Department of Fish and game. The name, the department of
fish and wildlife, more accurately reflects the purpose and
vision of this agency."
Born Free USA concurs and adds that "changing the name of the
Department of Fish and Game to Department of Fish and Wildlife
will better reflect the expectations and interests of California
residents who value all wildlife. According to the 2006 National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, less than one
percent of California residents hunt while 80 percent of
California residents participate in non-consumptive wildlife
activities such as wildlife watching."
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
The California Sportsman's Lobby "believes that the proposed
name change of the Department of Fish and Game to the Department
of Fish and Wildlife would provide support to those who oppose
hunting and fishing as they and others would see it as a change
in direction of the Department away from these traditional
sporting activities. Other states that have "Wildlife" instead
of "game" in their respective department names are strong
hunting and fishing states where the opponents of hunting and
fishing do not have the same level of influence that they have
in California. In these states, the term "Wildlife" does not
give the perception of de-emphasis of hunting and fishing that
it would have in California if the name of our state's
Department is changed."
These views were echoed by other opponents who also expressed
concern that a name change would lead to a decrease in sales of
firearms and other sporting goods and that funds generated by
hunting and fishing licenses sold are a significant source of
revenue to the department.
COMMENTS
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Rebranding during "the Great Recession ." While one of the
Strategic Vision's foundational strategies specifically calls
for "clear and compelling communication" by the department, it
is not clear that referring to the department as "CalWILD" helps
to meet these goals. Further, a visible rebranding effort could
be difficult to justify financially in the state's current
economic difficulties. Committee staff note that "CalFIRE"
logos became rapidly widespread following the chaptering of AB
1423 (Bogh, c. 265, Statutes of 2006) despite identical
safeguards to those included in this bill that require supplies
and other materials be used in their entirety prior to
implementing the change.
"CalWILD" may cause some confusion . The California Wilderness
Coalition's internet domain name is "calwild." Its facebook
page is also listed under "Cal Wild" and its twitter handled is
"@calwild." There is a Southern California Wilderness blog
whose domain name is "socalwild," as well. Additionally, "Cal
Wild" has been used as part of a rapper's stage name and a
pornographic movie/video production company called "California
Wildcats" is repeatedly referred to as "Cal Wild" online.
Fewer Californians hunt and fish . Decades of hunting and
fishing license sales show that hunting and fishing's popularity
is declining in both absolute and relative terms. For example,
resident hunting licenses have declined from 690,790 sold in
1970 (representing < 5% of the adult population) to 251,572 in
2010 (representing < 1% of the adult population). Resident
sport fishing license sales have also declined by about half
from 1970 (2,093,696 sold) to 2010 (1,112,783 sold). Similar
trends are observed in the other license categories. In 2011,
revenues from fishing and hunting licenses sold were
approximately $60 million and $22 million, respectively. In FY
2010/2011 the department budget was approximately $318 million.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was not ever the U.S. Fish
and Game Service . Kentucky, Washington and Oregon use the term
"wildlife" instead of "game" for their respective departments
reflecting the broad range of non-game-related wildlife
activities under their jurisdiction.
Related legislation
AB 2402 (Huffman, 2012) would implement recommendations from the
California Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision including renaming
the Department of Fish and Game the Department of Fish and
Wildlife (before Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee)
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SB 1148 (Pavley, 2012) would implement additional
recommendations from the California Fish and Wildlife Strategic
Vision (before Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee)
AB 1423 (Bogh, c.265, Statutes of 2006) allowed the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to be referred to as
"CalFIRE"
SUPPORT
Public Interest Coalition
Born Free U.S.A.
California Fish and Game Wardens' Association
PawPac
OPPOSITION
National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc.
California Association of Firearms Retailers
The California Sportsman's Lobby
Outdoor Sportsmen's Coalition of California
Safari Club International
Gun Owners of California
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