BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 470
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 6, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                     SB 470 (Evans) - As Amended:  May 31, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                              Water, Parks and 
          Wildlife     Vote:                            x-y

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill extends and modifies the commercial fishing stamp 
          salmon program.  Specifically, this bill:

          1)Extends, for two years, the requirement that any person who 
            takes salmon for commercial purposes must purchase a 
            commercial fishing salmon stamp. 

          2)Removes statutory provisions that continuously appropriate 
            proceeds from stamp sales to the Department of Fish and Game 
            (DFG).

          3)Increases, from 3.3% of stamp funds to 15%, the amount DFG may 
            expend on program administration. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Consistent with past stamp proceeds, annual revenue of between 
          $170,000 to $520,000, 15% of which DFG may use for 
          administrative costs.  (Fish and Game Preservation Fund.)

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   The author contends the revenue generated by sale 
            of commercial fishing salmon stamps and the restoration 
            program it supports is vital to the recovery of salmon runs.  
           
           2)Background.   The state, oftentimes with the support of 










                                                                  SB 470
                                                                  Page  2

            affected hunters and anglers, levies stamps on the hunting or 
            fishing of certain wildlife species in addition to a general 
            hunting or fishing license.  Stamp fee revenues generally 
            benefit the species for which the stamp was sold. 

            The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association, in 
            1978, sponsored the bill that created the Commercial Salmon 
            Trollers Enhancement and Restoration Program and required the 
            purchase of the salmon stamp, which, at the time, cost $30 
            more than a basic commercial fishing license. Today, the cost 
            of the stamp is set between $85 and $260, depending on the 
            volume of fishing activity in the preceding year.  The stamp 
            program has generated between $170,000 and $520,000 annually 
            and over $14 million during its lifetime.  

           3)Support  .  This bill is supported by the Pacific Coast 
            Federation of Fisherman's Association.

           4)There is no opposition registered to this bill.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081