BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 1107
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 8, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                  SB 1107 (Berryhill) - As Amended:  June 19, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                             Water, Parks and 
          Wildlife     Vote:                            12-0

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

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to 
          include on its Automated License Data System (ALDS) website a 
          qualifying nonprofit conservation organization's logo and a link 
          to the organization's website.  The bill defines a nonprofit 
          conservation organization as one that, as determined by DFG, has 
          goals and objectives related to the conservation of sport fish 
          or game species and has recently performed certain conservation 
          or related duties under agreement with DFG.  The bill authorizes 
          DFG to charge a nonprofit conservation organization for the 
          costs associated with reviewing the organization's 
          qualifications and placing the logo and link on the ALDS 
          website.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor costs, likely no more than the low tens of thousands of 
          dollars annually and fully recoverable by the charge authorized 
          by this bill, to DFG to review the qualifications of nonprofit 
          conservation organizations and to place such organizations' 
          logos and links on the ALDS website (Fish and Game Preservation 
          Fund).

           COMMENTS  

          1)  Rationale  .  The author contends nonprofit conservation and 
            sportsmen's groups critically assist DFG in conserving 
            wildlife and habitat and it is therefore appropriate to assist 
            such organizations' outreach efforts, especially if doing so 
            comes at no cost to the department.

           2)Background.   Hunters and anglers must be licensed by DFG 







                                                                  SB 1107
                                                                  Page  2

            before "taking" wildlife.  DFG charges varying fees for these 
            licenses.  The department is in the process of transitioning 
            from a paper-based licensing system to the electronic ALDS, 
            which DFG believes will be available online and at field 
            locations, such as kiosks, in 2014.

           3)Support  .  This bill is supported by the California Fish and 
            Game Commission and the California Waterfowl Association, 
            which view nonprofit conservation organizations as DFG's 
            partners, whose efforts the department should support.

           4)Opposition.   This bill is opposed by Paw Pac and the Public 
            Interest Coalition, who contend inclusion of logos and links 
            on the ALDS website implies favoritism and endorsement by DFG, 
            which contradicts the department's obligation to serve all 
            Californians, including those who do not, or who do not 
            support, hunting and fishing.

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