BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 504
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   January 23, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   AB 504 (Chesbro) - As Amended:  January 6, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Water, Parks and  
          Wildlife     Vote:                            15-0

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

           SUMMARY  

          This bill extends the sunset date of programs to regulate  
          commercial sea cucumber fisheries from 2016 to 2018.


           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor costs to the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) of less  
          than $30,000 (special fund) per year for issuing and enforcing  
          permits likely offset by permit fee revenue.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose.   This bill extends laws to protect sea cucumber  
            populations from overfishing.  
           
           2)Background.   Existing law prohibits the take or possession of  
            sea cucumbers for commercial purposes without a valid sea  
            cucumber permit.  According to DFW, there were 83 diving  
            permits and 6 trawl permits issued in 2012 resulting in the  
            commercial harvest of nearly 500,000 pounds of sea cucumbers.   
            The current fee for a sea cucumber diving or trawling permit  
            is $338.75 per person.  
           




           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081 









                                                                  AB 504
                                                                  Page  2