BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1166|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1166
Author: Berryhill (R)
Amended: 5/29/12
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER COMM. : 9-0, 4/24/12
AYES: Pavley, La Malfa, Cannella, Evans, Fuller, Kehoe,
Padilla, Simitian, Wolk
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 6-0, 5/24/12
AYES: Kehoe, Walters, Alquist, Dutton, Lieu, Steinberg
NO VOTE RECORDED: Price
SUBJECT : Department of Fish and Game: Big Game
Management Account funds
SOURCE : California Outdoor Heritage Alliance
DIGEST : This bill allows a nonprofit, who is designated
by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to auction deer or
big horn sheep tags, to retain up to 10% of the tag cost to
cover their administrative costs of holding the auction.
This bill also requires that the funds in the Big Game
Management Account (BGMA) be primarily used for programs
that benefit big game.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
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1. Requires all money collected under the provisions of the
Fish and Game Code, including money received as a result
of the sale of licenses issued under the provisions of
the code, to be deposited into the Fish and Game
Preservation Fund (Fund), unless otherwise provided.
Existing law grants authority to the DFG to issue tags,
stamps, and licenses for the hunting of antelope, elk,
upland game birds, deer, wild pigs, bears, and bighorn
sheep upon payment of a fee, to be deposited into the
Fund.
2. Establishes the BGMA within the Fund to permit separate
accountability for the receipt and, subject to
appropriation, the prescribed expenditure of revenues
from antelope, elk, deer, wild pig, bear, and bighorn
sheep tags, including fundraising tags.
3. Requires that funds deposited in the account be
available for expenditure upon appropriation to the DFG,
as specified.
This bill has two main provisions: (1) allows nonprofits,
which are auctioning deer and sheep tags on behalf of DFG,
to retain up to 10% of the auction proceeds to cover their
administrative costs to hold the auction, and (2) requires
DFG to account for spending for each of these species
separately.
Background
Existing law allows DFG to authorize the sale of 10 deer
tags and up to three bighorn sheep tags annually for the
purpose of raising funds for programs and projects related
to big game species. Revenues are deposited into the BGMA.
Except for these tags, which are generally auctioned by
nonprofits, deer and sheep tags are distributed by lottery
for a set fee.
In the past, there were separate accounts for antelope,
elk, deer, wild pig, bear, and bighorn sheep within the
Fund. SB 1058 (Harman), Chapter 408, Statutes of 2010,
consolidated these separate accounts into a single BGMA and
required that the monies only be spent on projects that
benefited those species.
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FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Ongoing costs of $35,000 to $45,000 to the BGMA
(special fund) beginning in 2013-14 for the loss of
auction proceeds.
Ongoing unknown costs to the Fund beginning in 2013 for
the use of the BGMA for administrative costs.
Ongoing costs of less than $50,000 to the BGMA for
accounting requirements.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/29/12)
California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (source)
California Rifle and Pistol Association
California Waterfowl Association
National Rifle Association
Safari Club International
OPPOSITION : (Verified 5/29/12)
Public Interest Coalition
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the California
Outdoor Heritage Alliance, DFG needs greater direction to
prioritize expenditures for conservation, and not
administrative costs, from the BGMA. Data provided by this
group concludes that in 2010-11, DFG used nearly 30% of the
funds expended from the BGMA on administration and
enforcement. For 2012-13, DFG is proposing to use upwards
of 52% on administrative costs and enforcement.
CTW:kc 5/29/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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