Existing law requires every person 16 years of age or older who takes any fish, reptile, or amphibian for any purpose other than profit to first obtain a sport fishing license for that purpose, with specified exceptions, and to have that license on his or her person or in his or her immediate possession when engaged in carrying out any activity authorized by the license. Existing law requires a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a specified fee, to be issued a sport fishing license for the period of a calendar year, or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder thereof. Existing law also requires the issuance of shorter term licenses upon payment of a specified lesser fee. Existing law requires the Fish and Game Commission to adjust the amount of the fees, as prescribed, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the commission relating to those licenses.

This bill, in addition to sport fishing licenses for the periods specified above, would require a sport fishing license to be issued to a resident or nonresident for the period of 12 consecutive months, upon payment of a fee that is equal to 130% of the fees for issuance of resident or nonresident calendar-year licenses, as applicable. The bill would require the commission to adjust the amount of the fees as necessary to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation and administrative costs of the department and the commission relating to these licenses, including all costs related to their establishment. establishment and enforcement. The bill would require the department to submit to the Legislature a written report on the implementation of these provisions, as provided. The bill would make these provisions operative beginning January 1, 2020, until January 1, 2023.

Under existing law, a hunting license grants the privilege to take birds and mammals. Existing law requires the department to issue a hunting license for specified periods of time, including for a term of one year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a sport fishing license for specified periods of time, including for the period of a calendar year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue lifetime hunting licenses and lifetime sport fishing licenses, and grants certain lifetime privileges to holders of those licenses, upon the one-time payment of specified fees.

This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain the above-described licenses and the 12 consecutive month licenses created by this bill by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of California.

Under existing law, the department issues, upon payment of specified fees, various types of sport fishing report cards and validations that are required, in addition to a sport fishing license, to engage in various activities relating to the taking and possession of amphibians, reptiles, and fish for purposes other than profit.

This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of California and by 50% for a person who meets those requirements and who also has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.

Existing law requires every person 16 years of age or older who takes any fish, reptile, or amphibian for any purpose other than profit to first obtain a sport fishing license for that purpose, with specified exceptions, and to have that license on his or her person or in his or her immediate possession when engaged in carrying out any activity authorized by the license. Existing law requires a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a specified fee, to be issued a sport fishing license for the period of a calendar year, or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder thereof. Existing law also requires the issuance of shorter term licenses upon payment of a specified lesser fee. Existing law requires the Fish and Game Commission to adjust the amount of the fees, as prescribed, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the commission relating to those licenses.

Under existing law, a hunting license grants the privilege to take birds and mammals. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife department to issue a hunting license for specified periods of time, including for a term of one year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a lifetime hunting license, upon payment of a fee, to eligible California residents that authorizes a person to take birds and mammals for the life of the person, as prescribed. Existing law requires the department to issue a sport fishing license for specified periods of time, including for the period of a calendar year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a lifetime sport fishing license, upon payment of a fee, to eligible California residents that authorizes a person to take fish, reptiles, and amphibians for the life of the person, as prescribed. Existing law requires the department to issue lifetime sportsmans licenses, upon payment of a fee, to eligible California residents that authorizes a person to take birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians for the life of the person, as prescribed. Existing law requires the department to issue lifetime hunting licenses and lifetime sport fishing licenses, and grants certain lifetime privileges to holders of those licenses, upon the one-time payment of specified fees.

This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain the above-described licenses and the 12 consecutive month licenses created by this bill by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of California.

Under existing law, the department issues issues, upon payment of specified fees, various types of sport fishing report cards and validations upon payment of specified fees that authorize that are required, in addition to a sport fishing license, to engage in various activities relating to the taking and possession of amphibians, reptiles, and fish for purposes other than profit.

This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of California and by 50% for a person who meets those requirements and who also has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.

Existing law requires every person 16 years of age or older who takes any fish, reptile, or amphibian for any purpose other than profit to first obtain a sport fishing license for that purpose, with specified exceptions, and to have that license on his or her person or in his or her immediate possession when engaged in carrying out any activity authorized by the license. Existing law requires a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a specified fee, to be issued a sport fishing license for the period of a calendar year, or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder thereof.

This bill would instead require a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, upon payment of the fee, to be issued a sport fishing license for the period of 12 consecutive months beginning on the date of issuance.

Under existing law, a hunting license grants the privilege to take birds and mammals. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue a hunting license for specified periods of time, including for a term of one year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a lifetime hunting license, upon payment of a fee, to eligible California residents that authorizes a person to take birds and mammals for the life of the person, as prescribed. Existing law requires the department to issue a sport fishing license for specified periods of time, including for the period of a calendar year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a lifetime sport fishing license, upon payment of a fee, to eligible California residents that authorizes a person to take fish, reptiles, and amphibians for the life of the person, as prescribed. Existing law requires the department to issue lifetime sportsmans licenses, upon payment of a fee, to eligible California residents that authorizes a person to take birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians for the life of the person, as prescribed.

This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain the above-described licenses by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of California.

Under existing law, the department issues sport fishing report cards and validations upon payment of specified fees that authorize various activities relating to the taking and possession of amphibians, reptiles, and fish for purposes other than profit.

This bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of California and by 50% for a person who meets those requirements and who also has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

AB 986 (Gallagher) - Hunting and sport fishing licenses: sport fishing license duration: reduction in license fees for veterans

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

This would bill require the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to reduce the fees required to obtain hunting licenses and various sport fishing entitlements by 25 percent for state residents who are honorably discharged United States Armed Forces veterans, and by 50 percent if the resident has a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability. Additionally, this bill would require DFW to offer a sport fishing license that would be valid for 12 consecutive months from the date of purchase. This license would be in addition to the existing calendar-year sport fishing license, and would cost 130 percent of the amount for the calendar-year license.

Fiscal Impact:

• Reduction in revenue to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund (Fish and Game Preservation Fund [FGPF]) between hundreds of thousands of dollars up to a couple million.
• Unknown increased cost pressure to review applicant eligibility for licenses.
• Onetime increased expenditures of $661,000 for development and implementation, and $231,000 for increased program staff (FGPF).

Background:

DFW reports that in 2016, California issued approximately 16,000 disabled veteran sport fishing licenses, which are issued on a calendar year basis. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, there are approximately 1.8 million veterans living in California.

Existing law offers reduced hunting and fishing licenses for disabled or recovering veterans with a 50 percent or greater service connected disability. The discount allows veterans to pay $7.30 for a hunting license, rather than the usual rate of $47. In 2017, revenue from sport fishing licenses purchased by disabled veterans and recovering service members resulted in a little under $113 thousand. for sport In addition, revenue from disabled veterans and recovering service members totaled $28,870 for hunting licenses.

Proposed Law:

This bill would:

• Create a sport fishing license that would be valid for 12 consecutive months beginning on the date of issuance. The fee required for the 12-month license would be equal to 130 percent of the cost of the fee currently charged for a calendar-year license.
• Require DFW to reduce the fee required to be paid for hunting licenses and annual or lifetime sport fishing licenses by 25 percent for a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, and by 50 percent for a person who meets the same requirements and has a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability
• Authorize DFW to adjust the fees to fully recover reasonable administrative and implementation costs.
  
  Require DFW to reduce the fee paid for sport fishing report cards and validations stamps by 25% for all resident veterans and 50% for all disabled veterans.
  
  Require DFW to submit to the Legislature a written report on the implementation of this section on or before December 1, 2021.

Specifically, this bill would:

• Require DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain a lifetime sportsman's license, an annual or lifetime hunting license, or an annual or lifetime sport fishing license, by 25%, for any resident of the state who is a Veteran and was honorably discharged.
• Require DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement required in addition to a sport fishing license by 25% for any resident of the state who is a Veteran and was honorably discharged, and by 50% for a Veteran who has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.
• Require a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, to be issued a sport fishing license for 12 consecutive months beginning on the date of issuance.

Related Legislation: There are currently six bills, including this one, going through the legislative process related to R3 (recruitment, retention and reactivation) that if implemented would all require staff hours for programing the Automated Licensing Date System. These bills individually have small impacts to the Department but cumulatively would have an impact in staff hours and vendor contracts of up to 3.3 PYs and $965,000 for one fiscal year. These bills include AB 986 (Gallagher), AB 2151 (Gray), AB 2670 (Kiley), AB 2805 (Bigelow), SB 518 (Berryhill), and SB 1311 (Berryhill).

Staff Comments:

DFW has an annual operating shortfall of $20 million in its Fish and Game Preservation Fund, a non-dedicated account. Hunting and sport fishing licensing fees feed into the fund and provide 17.1% of DFW's total budget. The Governor proposed to address the annual operating shortfall in his proposed 2017-18 budget primarily through increased commercial fishing landing fees, and from a onetime shift of funds from a trust account funded by lifetime hunting and sport fishing licenses. The likelihood of the Governor’s proposal or some other approach moving forward is not known at this time.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

Senator Richard Roth, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: AB 986 Hearing Date: 6/26/18

Subject: Hunting and sport fishing licenses: sport fishing license duration: reduction in license fees for veterans

DESCRIPTION

Summary:

This bill requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to issue sport fishing licenses – for a 12-consecutive month period – and reduce annual sport fishing and hunting license fees for honorably discharged resident veterans.

Existing law:

Licensing – General:

1. Declares legislative intent that the costs of hunting and sport fishing programs shall be provided out of hunting and sport fishing revenues and reimbursements and federal funds received for hunting and sport fishing programs, and other funds appropriated by the Legislature for this purpose, as specified.
2. Requires the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) to adjust the amount of fees, as prescribed, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of DFW and the Commission relating to those licenses.
3. Requires every person 16 years of age or older, who takes any fish, reptile, or amphibian for any purposes other than profit, to first obtain a sport fishing license for that purpose, with specified exceptions, and to have that license on his or her person or in his or her immediate possession when engaged in carrying out any activity authorized by the license.
4. Requires a resident or a nonresident – 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a specified fee – to be issued a sport fishing license for the period of a calendar year, or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder thereof. Sport fishing licenses for shorter periods (e.g. 1 and 2 days for residents and nonresidents, and 10 days for nonresidents, among others) are also available.
5. Requires DFW to issue an annual hunting license to a resident or nonresident upon payment of the applicable fee. The annual hunting license is valid for a term of one year from July 1 to June 30, inclusive, or, if issued after the beginning of the term, for the remainder of the term. One-day or two-day hunting licenses are available also.
6. Requires DFW to issue lifetime hunting licenses and lifetime sport fishing licenses, and grants certain lifetime privileges to holders of those licenses, upon the one-time payment of specified fees. The current fee varies from $533.25 to $871.25 depending upon the age of the applicant.
7. Requires the purchase of certain sport fishing validations, stamps and cards for specified areas and circumstances which are only good for a calendar year. The fees for these vary. In addition, certain validation packages are also available for lifetime purchase that provide certain bird hunting, big game hunting, and additional fishing privileges.

Licensing – Veterans and Military:

1. Authorizes a disabled veteran or recovering service member to purchase a reduced-fee annual hunting license or reduced-fee annual sport fishing license.
   1. Defines a “disabled veteran” as a person having a 50% or greater service-connected disability and an honorable discharge from military service.
   2. Defines a “recovering service member” as a member of the military, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve force, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the person’s military service.

This bill:

This bill requires DFW to issue sport fishing licenses – for a 12-consecutive month period – and reduce annual sport fishing and hunting license fees for honorably discharged resident veterans. Specifically, this bill would:

Licensing – General:

1. Requires DFW to offer, in addition to the calendar year sport fishing license, a sport fishing license valid for 12-consecutive months from the date of purchase upon payment of a fee equal to 130%, as specified, of the applicable calendar year resident or nonresident sport fishing license.
   1. The Commission is required to adjust the amount of the fees as necessary to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of DFW and the Commission relating to these licenses, including all costs related to their establishment.
   2. Sport fishing validations remain required, as applicable, to take certain species for holders of the 12-consecutive month sport fishing license.
   3. The provisions authorizing the issuance of the 12-consecutive month sport fishing license are valid from January 1, 2020 until January 1, 2023.

Licensing – Veterans and Military:

1. Requires DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain annual and lifetime hunting or annual, one or two day and lifetime sport fishing licenses (including the 12-consecutive month sport fishing license when offered) by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of the state.
2. Requires DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of the state. The fee reduction is increased to 50% for a person who meets these requirements and has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.
3. Requires DFW to collect all relevant and sufficient data necessary to justify the amount of the fees assessed.
4. Requires DFW, on or before December 1, 2021, to submit the Legislature a written report, as specified, on the implementation of this section.

BACKGROUND

According to analysis by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water:

“The number of annual sport fishing license sales sold by DFW is about 1 million and is almost entirely purchased by residents. This has been reasonably stable since 2011. In the last 40 plus years there has been a steady decline in annual sport fishing license sales. In the 1970s and into the early 1980s, resident annual sport fishing license sales averaged about 2.1 – 2.2 million. Hunting has also declined over the same time period from roughly 600,000 purchases of annual licenses in 1970 to about 240,000 annual license sales in 2016. These declines occurred at the same time as California’s population approximately doubled. California is not unique in this regard, as hunting and angling participation have also declined nationwide overall over this time period. Recent (2011) US Fish and Wildlife Service data showed an uptick in participation – a 9% and 11% increase in hunting and sport fishing nationally, respectively, from 2006 – 2011. The preliminary 2016 report, however, shows that while fishing participation continued to increase from 2011- 2016, hunting decreased 16%.”

Calendar Year and 12-Consecutive-Month Sport Fishing License. Provisions in this bill to shift the issuance of a sport fishing license from the calendar year to 12 consecutive months have been attempted several times before. The issues raised in the past have been questions about an implementation challenge with the transition to an Automated License Data System (ALDS) for hunting and fishing licenses; how fishery report cards, validations, and entitlements would be tracked; and what the impacts of this change would mean for DFW revenue.

The ALDS is now in place compared to when previous efforts to shift to a 12-consecutive month license occurred. With regard to ALDS, the question moving forward with this policy is how long it would take to transition the ALDS to a 12 consecutive month license and what the cost of that shift would be. According to the DFW, it would take approximately one year. The DFW did not provide a cost estimate.

COMMENT

Author Comment:

“Current law only offers discounts on fishing and hunting licenses to disabled or recovering veterans. This bill would expand this discount to all honorably discharged veterans to expand access to California’s outdoor opportunities and demonstrate California’s appreciation of their service. Additionally, under current law, an annual sport fishing license is valid from date of purchase until December 31st. This bill would instead require licenses be issued for the period of 12 consecutive months from date of purchase.”

Committee Comment:

This bill has no opposition.

The California Association of Professional Scientists issued a letter, dated 6/19/18, which removed their earlier opposition to AB 986.

POSITIONS

Sponsor: California Sportfishing League

Support:

American G.I. Forum of California

American Legion-Department of California

AMVETS-Department of California

California Aquaculture Association

California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns

California Association of County Veterans Service Officers

California Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds

California Bowmen Hunters/State Archery Association

California Chamber of Commerce

California Deer Association

California Hawking Club

California Hotel and Lodging Association

California Houndsmen for Conservation

California Parks Company

California Rifle & Pistol Association

California Sportsman’s Lobby

California State Commanders Veterans Council

California Travel Association

California Waterfowl Association

Cal-Ore Wetlands and Waterfowl Council

Fred Hall Shows, Inc.

Military Officers Association of America, California Council of Chapters

National Rifle Association of America

National Wild Turkey Federation, California State Chapter

Northern California Guides and Sportsmen’s Association

Outdoor Sportsmen’s Coalition of California

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Rural County Representatives of California

Safari Club International California Coalition

Safari Club International, Golden Gate Chapter

Safari Club International, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter

Suisun Resources Conservation District

The Black Brant Group

Tulare Basin Wetlands Association

Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council

Visit Huntington Beach

Wild Sheep Foundation, California Chapter

Oppose: None received.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER

Senator Robert Hertzberg, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: AB 986 Hearing Date: June 12, 2018

Subject: Hunting and sport fishing licenses: sport fishing license duration: reduction in license fees for veterans

BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW

Existing law declares the legislative intent that the costs of hunting and sport fishing programs shall be provided out of hunting and sport fishing revenues and reimbursements and federal funds received for hunting and sport fishing programs, and other funds appropriated by the Legislature for this purpose, as specified.

Existing law requires the Fish and Game Commission (commission) to adjust the amount of fees, as prescribed, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the Department of Fish and Wildlife (department) and the commission relating to those licenses.

Existing law requires every person 16 years of age or older who takes any fish, reptile, or amphibian for any purposes other than profit to first obtain a sport fishing license for that purpose, with specified exceptions, and to have that license on his or her person or in his or her immediate possession when engaged in carrying out any activity authorized by the license.

Existing law requires a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a specified fee, to be issued a sport fishing license for the period of a calendar year, or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder thereof. Sport fishing licenses for shorter periods (e.g. 1 and 2 days (residents and nonresidents) and 10 days (nonresidents), among others) are also available. The current license fee for a calendar year adult resident sport fishing license is $48.34. The one and two day licenses are $15.69 and $24.33, respectively.

Under existing law, a hunting license grants the privilege to take birds and mammals. Existing law requires the department to issue an annual hunting license to a resident or nonresident upon payment of the applicable fee. Under existing law, the annual hunting license is valid for a term of one year from July 1 to June 30, inclusive, or, if issued after the beginning of the term, for the remainder of the term. One or two day hunting licenses are also available. The current license fee for an annual adult resident hunting license is $48.34.

Existing law requires the department to issue lifetime hunting licenses and lifetime sport fishing licenses, and grants certain lifetime privileges to holders of those licenses, upon the one-time payment of specified fees. The current fee varies from $533.25 to $871.25 depending upon the age of the applicant.

Existing law requires the purchase of certain sport fishing validations, stamps and cards for specified areas and circumstances which are only good for a calendar year. These include, for example, an ocean enhancement validation, a steelhead report card, a second rod validation and a Colorado River validation. Current fees range from $5.40 - $22.94. In addition certain bag limits, such as for abalone, are reported annually. Most, but not all, recreational fisheries are open year round. Similarly, the purchase of tags, stamps and validations to take particular game animals in season or to participate in certain hunts is also required. The fees for these vary. In addition, certain validation packages are also available for lifetime purchase that provide certain bird hunting, big game hunting, and additional fishing privileges.

Existing law authorizes a disabled veteran or recovering service member to purchase a reduced-fee annual hunting license, or a reduced-fee annual sport fishing license. Those fees are now $7.21 - $7.56 (depending upon where the license is purchased). A disabled veteran is a person having a 50% or greater service-connected disability and an honorable discharge from military service. A recovering service member is a member of the military, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve force, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the person’s military service. In addition, existing law makes reduced-fee sport fishing licenses available to low income seniors and for free to low income Native Americans and persons who are blind, developmentally disabled or mobility impaired. Additionally, certain free licenses are available for disabled hunters to facilitate their ability to hunt.

In addition, existing law authorizes the department to designate up to two free hunting and fishing days each year, subject to certain conditions.

The number of annual sport fishing license sales sold by the department is about 1 million and is almost entirely purchased by residents. This has been reasonably stable since 2011. In the last 40 plus years there has been a steady decline in annual sport fishing license sales. In the 1970s and into the early 1980s, resident annual sport fishing license sales averaged about 2.1 – 2.2 million. Hunting has also declined over the same time period from roughly 600,000 purchases of annual licenses in 1970 to about 240,000 annual license sales in 2016. These declines occurred at the same time as California’s population approximately doubled. California is not unique in this regard, as hunting and angling participation have also declined nationwide overall over this time period. Recent (2011) US Fish and Wildlife Service data showed an uptick in participation – a 9% and 11% increase in hunting and sport fishing nationally, respectively, from 2006 – 2011. The preliminary 2016 report, however, shows that while fishing participation continued to increase from 2011- 2016, hunting decreased 16%.

Since 1990, the number of disabled veterans obtaining reduced fee hunting licenses has increased from 23 (1990) to about 4,100 (in 2016 and 2017). Disabled veterans purchased approximately 8,400 reduced fee sport fishing licenses in 2011 increasing to about 16,700 licenses in 2017 (prior to 2011, the department tracked all reduced fee sport fishing licenses together). Twelve or fewer reduced fee hunting licenses and 27 or fewer reduced fee sport fishing licenses for recovering service members have been issued annually since 2012.

According to a recent Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee analysis, there are fewer hunters in all age groups, and particularly fewer young hunters. Additionally, the vast majority of new hunters are the children of current hunters. The failure to attract new hunters and anglers, and the cause of decline in hunting and sport fishing nationally are attributed to a combination of factors including, among other things, increasing urbanization, lack of access, cost, changing demographics, and less time spent outdoors. No one single factor has been identified as the single cause of the decline.

According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, there are approximately 1.8 million veterans living in the state. Of these veterans, approximately 332,000 receive monthly disability compensation (2014 data).

PROPOSED LAW

This bill would require the department to issue 12-consecutive month sport fishing licenses and reduce annual sport fishing and hunting license fees for honorably discharged resident veterans. Specifically, this bill would:

1. Require the department to offer, in addition to the calendar year sport fishing license, a sport fishing license valid for 12-consecutive months from the date of purchase upon payment of a fee equal to 130%, as specified, of the applicable calendar year resident or nonresident sport fishing license.
   1. The commission is required to adjust the amount of the fees as necessary to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the department and the commission relating to these licenses, including all costs related to their establishment.
   2. Sport fishing validations remain required, as applicable, to take certain species for holders of the 12-consecutive month sport fishing license.
   3. The provisions authorizing the issuance of the 12-consecutive month sport fishing license are valid from January 1, 2020 until January 1, 2023.
2. Require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain annual and lifetime hunting or annual, one or two day and lifetime sport fishing licenses (including the 12-consecutive month sport fishing license when offered) by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of the state.
3. Require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement by 25% for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of the state. The fee reduction is increased to 50% for a person who meets these requirements and has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT

“Since 1980, annual recreational fishing license sales have declined over 56%, even as the population increased by nearly 60%. At the same time, the cost of the licenses has continued to increase every year, making buying licenses prohibitive to many people. California now ranks dead last in fishing participation per capita based on the last U.S. Census. These statistics make it clear that the current license structure is not working, and prevents people from participating in a sport that contributes over $4.9 billion annually to California’s economy. Currently, licenses expire on December 31 of every year regardless of when purchased. A license purchased in January costs the same as a license purchased in December even though both expire on the same day. Many other states aiming to increase participation have switched to 12-month licenses (valid 365 days from date of purchase). AB 986 follows this model by giving anglers a 12-month license option. The bill also recognizes the sacrifices of our veterans by granting them a well-deserved discount on hunting and fishing licenses.”

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION

According to the California Association of Professional Scientists, “[the department] has an annual operating shortfall of $20 million in its Fish and Game Preservation Fund non-dedicated account. Hunting and sport fishing licensing fees are deposited into the fund and provide 17.1% of [the department]’s total budget.

“California issues more than one million annual sport fishing licenses each year. In 2016, annual sport fishing license sales generated more than $48 million in revenue. There have been 12 other states that have moved from a calendar year to 12-consecutive month license. […] [The department] surveyed these states and found that many experienced a significant decline in license sales. The decline was attributed to changes in license purchasing behavior. […] The states of Alabama, Texas, Georgia, New York, and Virginia experienced license sales reductions between 7 and 31% when they changed to a 12-consecutive month license.” […] The department estimates significant revenue losses estimated to be between $4.2 and $15.6 million (Fish and Game Preservation Fund and other special funds). This is revenue the department cannot afford to lose.”

COMMENTS

This bill is double-referred to the Senate Veterans Affair Committee. Elements of the bill subject to that Committee’s jurisdiction will be discussed before that Committee and are included here for completeness and context only.

The 12-consecutive month sport fishing license is a popular bill idea. In 2017, this Committee passed SB 187 (Berryhill) which contained similar provisions enacting a 12-consecutive month license (SB 187 (Berryhill) was superseded by SB 518 (Berryhill) in the Assembly). In previous legislative sessions, several additional bills instituting this new (to California) license structure were also introduced. None became law.

There is merit in trying new approaches to increase participation in hunting and sport fishing. As noted in a previous bill analysis this year, new approaches – including potentially a 12-consecutive month sport fishing license – may help to improve participation rates in California. It is important to note, however, that reduced hunting and sport fishing participation rates is a nationwide problem, not just California’s, and national organizations (and the department as described below) are increasing efforts to address it. The Department’s Automated License Data System – used to issue all licenses, stamps and cards – already manages a wide variety of licenses, report cards, validations, and so on. A pilot program for the 12-consecutive month sport fishing license should be reasonably implementable. However, given the ongoing budget issues at the department (described below and noted by the opponent), the Committee may wish to require that the department collect relevant data in order to appropriately evaluate the 12-consecutive month sport fishing license with a legislative reporting requirement prior to the license’s sunset in order to inform the debate about potential extension on the program in future years. [Amendment 1]

Long-standing Department funding concerns. Obtaining sufficient funding for all of the department’s mandates has been an ongoing concern for many years – in fact, decades. Last year, in its Fiscal Year 2017-2018 budget proposal, the Brown Administration identified a roughly $20 million structural annual budget deficit in the non-dedicated Fish and Game Preservation Fund, the department’s largest single fund source that supports “a multitude of program activities.” The department has maintained program activities by using the non-dedicated Fund balance and reducing expenditures. In general, sport fishing and hunting revenues are thought to currently cover the costs associated with the programs, although the data necessary to do a thorough assessment do not appear to be consistently collected. It remains unclear if the prevailing view is accurate. Last year’s budget proposal largely attributed the imbalance to expenses associated with commercial fishing and recommended, among other things, a 1300% increase in commercial landing fees. The Legislature approved a modified proposal that doubled the fees instead, and required the department to implement a zero-based budget by October 2017, among other things. In the FY 2018-2019 budget, the department seeks more permanent stable funding from tire recycling fees, vehicle registration and driver’s license fees, and the General Fund, among other sources. The department has indicated that it would seek to subsidize hunting and sport fishing license fees with these new revenue streams, and also acknowledges that the assessed fees for certain of its activities do not cover its costs. The outcome of this proposal remains unresolved. The Administration’s budget change proposal was rejected by both relevant Senate and Assembly Budget sub-committees with jurisdiction, and discussions continue to resolve the continuing funding shortfall. Committee staff notes that the zero-based budgeting effort required by last year’s budget appears to have stalled, and that neither the department nor the commission appears to have fully implemented existing requirements to review existing fees to ensure appropriate cost recovery. The Legislative Analyst’s Office has called for improved data collection at the department, among other things, to help provide the information necessary to address its budget problems. Additional revenue and cost transparency would help to address stakeholder concerns that fees paid are supporting relevant and appropriate activities.

Automatic renewal of the 12-consecutive month license. Similarly to another active bill (SB 518 (Berryhill)), the author is considering the addition of language to the bill to provide for automatic renewal of the 12-consecutive month license. The Committee may wish to direct staff to continue working with the author to develop language to provide for automatic renewal while ensuring that the department’s costs to do so remain covered by the fees assessed.

Are high license costs to blame for declines in hunting and sport fishing? According to the 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation: National Overview (the state-by-state breakdown is not yet available), license and fees accounted for 1% of overall fishing expenditures in 2016. For hunting, licenses and fees represented 3% of overall expenditures in 2016. For both hunting and fishing, equipment purchases accounted for the largest expense. It remains unclear that the cost of the state’s licenses is a significant impediment to participation.

Certain sport fishing validations are based upon the calendar year. As noted above, certain validations and report cards necessary to take certain species are based upon the calendar year (generally, but not entirely, by regulation). In the absence of changes to these regulations and/or applicable statute, the holder of a 12-consecutive month sport fishing license would have to purchase two applicable calendar year-based validations or report cards to continuously enjoy the associated privileges while the sport fishing license is valid.

Varying fees for the same privilege. In general, the same fee for the right to engage in a certain activity must be assessed on all by the state. However, certain differences in fees for the same activity may be valid in some circumstances.

Attracting new hunters and anglers. Given the decades-long decline in hunters and sport anglers, efforts have begun to try to reverse the decline. To date, these programs have had limited success. The department has provided the following:

“The department would like to note that it is currently establishing a recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) program, and has redirected existing resources, both financial and staff, to focus on producing a comprehensive hunting and fishing R3 action plan, in coordination with a broad spectrum of outdoor recreation stakeholders. The plan will identify barriers to participation in outdoor recreation, and potential solutions to those barriers. The department would prefer waiting until a comprehensive plan has been established to address the various issues contributing to the decline of hunting and fishing participation in California. Rather than try to solve the problem in a piecemeal fashion, it should be faced head-on in a comprehensive, methodical, research and data-driven manner, resulting in a suite of recommendations collaboratively developed by the department and the outdoor recreation community.”

“The department would like to note that there are currently six bills, including this one, going through the legislative process related to R3 (recruitment, retention and reactivation) that if implemented would all require staff hours for programming the Automated Licensing Data System. These bills individually have small impacts to the department but cumulatively would have an impact in staff hours and vendor contracts of up to 3.3 PYs and $965,000 for one fiscal year.”

Recent related legislation

SB 1311 (Berryhill, 2018) would require the department to offer combined sportsman’s licenses authorizing both sport fishing and hunting, as specified. (This bill is pending before the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee.)

AB 2805 (Bigelow, 2018) would revise wild pig hunt requirements and fees. (This bill is pending before the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.)

AB 2670 (Kiley, 2018) would require the department to offer free hunting days annually to replace the department’s authorization to do so. (This bill was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.)

AB 2465 (Gallagher, 2018) would require the department to establish an R3 Group to address barriers to sport fishing. (This bill is pending before the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.)

AB 2151 (Gray, 2018) would require the department to offer reduced fee licenses and tags for certain big game hunts to apprentice hunters. (This bill is pending before the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.)

SB 518 (Berryhill, 2017) would require the department to offer a 12-consecutive month fishing license. (This bill is pending before the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee.)

SB 187 (Berryhill, 2017) would require the department to offer a 12-consecutive month fishing license, as specified. (This bill was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.)

SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS

AMENDMENT 1

Page 6, line 21 – add “(1)” between “(c)” and “The”

Page 6, end of line 26 – delete the period and add “,

“, and enforcement costs associated with these licenses.

(2) The department shall collect all relevant, appropriate, and sufficient data necessary to justify the amount of the fees assessed pursuant to this section, including information about data collection and enforcement costs. Data collection efforts pursuant to this section shall avoid duplication and use data collected for other purposes, as feasible.”

On Page 6, between lines 27 and 28 add

“(e) On or before December 1, 2021, the department shall submit to the Legislature a written report on the implementation of this section. The report shall include all information collected pursuant to subdivision (c). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.”

SUPPORT

American G.I. Forum of California

American Legion-Department of California

AMVETS-Department of California

California Aquaculture Association

California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns

California Association of County Veterans Service Officers

California Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds

California Bowmen Hunters/State Archery Association

California Chamber of Commerce

California Deer Association

California Hawking Club

California Hotel and Lodging Association

California Houndsmen for Conservation

California Rifle & Pistol Association

California State Commanders Veterans Council

California Travel Association

California Waterfowl Association

Cal-Ore Wetlands and Waterfowl Council

Fred Hall Shows, Inc.

Military Officers Association of America, California Council of Chapters

National Rifle Association of America

National Wild Turkey Federation, California State Chapter

Outdoor Sportsmen’s Coalition of California

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Rural County Representatives of California

Safari Club International California Coalition

Safari Club International, Golden Gate Chapter

Safari Club International, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter

Suisun Resources Conservation District

The Black Brant Group

The California Parks Company

The California Sportfishing League

The California Sportsman’s Lobby, Inc.

The Northern California Guides and Sportsmen’s Association

Tulare Basin Wetlands Association

Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council

Visit Huntington Beach

Wild Sheep Foundation, California Chapter

OPPOSITION

California Association of Professional Scientists

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:

Author:(Gallagher)

As Amended Ver:January 22, 2018

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to reduce the fee for a hunting license, sport fishing license, and lifetime license sold to a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. Additionally, requires a new 12 consecutive month sport fishing license to be offered. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain an annual or lifetime hunting license, or an annual, 12 consecutive month, or lifetime sport fishing license, by 25%, for any resident of the state who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and was honorably discharged.
2. Requires the DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement required, in addition to a sport fishing license by 25% for any resident of the state who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and was honorably discharged, and by 50% for a veteran who has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.
3. Beginning January 1, 2020, requires the new 12 consecutive month sport fishing license to be available, have a base fee of 130% of the fee required for the existing calendar-year license, and the Fish and Game Commission to adjust the fee as necessary to recover all reasonable costs. Sunsets the 12 consecutive month sport fishing license January 1, 2023.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires an annual hunting license to be issued to any resident of the state age 18 years or older upon payment of a base fee of $31.25, to persons under age 18 years upon payment of a base fee of $8.25, and to nonresident adults upon payment of a base fee of $108.50. The base fees were placed in statute in 2004 and are adjusted annually based on inflation. With adjustments, the current fee levels for annual hunting licenses for 2015 are: $47.01 for an adult resident hunting license, $12.45 for a junior hunting license, and $164.16 for a nonresident hunting license.
2. Requires a sport fishing license to be issued to a resident, 16 years of age or older, for a base fee of $31.25, and to a nonresident for a base fee of $84. The base fees were placed in statute in 2004 and are adjusted annually based on inflation. With annual adjustments, the current license fee for a resident adult sport fishing license is $47.01, and for nonresidents is $126.62.
3. Authorizes a disabled veteran or recovering service member to purchase a reduced-fee hunting license, or a reduced-fee sport fishing license, for a base fee of $4.00, which adjusted for inflation is currently $6.95. Defines a disabled veteran as a person having a 50% or greater service-connected disability and an honorable discharge from military service. A recovering service member is a member of the military, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
4. Requires lifetime sport fishing or hunting licenses to be issued upon payment of a base fee that ranges from $365 to $600 depending on the age of the applicant. The base fees were placed in statute in 2004. Current lifetime sport fishing and hunting licenses adjusted for inflation are $517 to $844.50, depending on age. Additional lifetime packages are also available for bird hunting, big game hunting and additional fishing privileges.
5. Requires the Fish and Game Commission to adjust the amount of all of the above fees, as necessary, to fully recover but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the DFW and the FGC, relating to those licenses.
6. Makes reduced-fee sport fishing licenses available to low income seniors for $6.95, and for free to low income Native Americans and persons who are blind, developmentally disabled, or mobility impaired. Also makes free motor vehicle hunting licenses available to any mobility impaired disabled hunter who must use a motor vehicle to pursue game, and is either permanently or fully confined to a wheel chair, is an amputee, or depends on the aid of a walker or crutches to walk.
7. Requires the purchase of certain sport fishing report cards, validations, or entitlements, in addition to a sport fishing license, to fish for certain species of fish or in certain locations. Examples of sport fishing report cards include a sport fishing ocean enhancement stamp, a steelhead trout report card, a second rod sport fishing validation, and a salmon punch card.
8. Requires residents and nonresidents 16 years of age and older to hold a sport fishing license to fish. Makes available for purchase an annual sport fishing license valid for the January to December calendar year, a 10-day license for nonresidents only, 2-day licenses and 1-day licenses. Requires every person 16 years of age and older who takes any fish, reptile, or amphibian for any purpose other than profit to first purchase and be able to present a sport fishing license to fish. Makes available for purchase an annual sport fishing license valid for the January to December calendar year, a 10-day license for nonresidents only, 2-day licenses and 1-day licenses.

FISCAL EFFECTS: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, unknown annual significant revenue losses estimated to be between $4.2 and $9.5 million (Fish and Game Preservation Fund and other special funds). This estimate is based on 2016 license revenues and assuming veterans represent 6.15% of the California population.

COMMENTS: The DFW manages California's fish, wildlife, and plant resources. It also regulates hunting and sport fishing within the state. Each year the Commission sets license fees and take restrictions, as well as other regulations that the DFW implements and enforces. California law requires that most license and other DFW program fees are set at a level sufficient to cover administrative costs.

The DFW reports that in 2016, California issued approximately 15,577 disabled veteran sport fishing licenses. For the 2015-16 hunting license year, 3,885 disabled veteran hunting licenses were issued. The DFW also indicates that 14 sport fishing licenses and 6 hunting licenses were issued to recovering service members in 2016. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are approximately 1.8 million veterans living in California, with 331,645 receiving monthly disability compensation as of 2014. The provisions of this bill, to reduce fees for veterans, if enacted, would therefore increase from approximately 331,600 to 1.8 million the number of individuals who would be eligible to purchase a reduced-fee hunting or sport fishing license.

The DFW has an annual operating shortfall of $20 million in its Fish and Game Preservation Fund non dedicated account. Hunting and sport fishing licensing fees are deposited into the fund and provide 17.1% of the DFW's total budget. In the January budget, the Governor proposed to address the annual operating shortfall with $50.6 million of ongoing funding from the General Fund, Motor Vehicle Account, and Tire Recycling Management Fund.

California issues more than one million annual sport fishing licenses each year. In 2016, annual sport fishing license sales generated more than $48 million in revenue.

There have been 12 other states that have moved from a calendar year sport fishing license to a 12 consecutive month license. These states are Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

The DFW surveyed the states that had implemented a 12 month consecutive fishing license and found that many experienced a significant decline in license sales. The decline was attributed to changes in license purchasing behavior. Anglers in these states tended to wait to purchase a fishing license until right before they went fishing. After each license expired, they often waited to renew their license until they fished again. This delay in purchasing resulted in fewer license purchases. The change in purchasing behavior was most pronounced in states that have relatively high sport fishing license fees. California sport fishing license fees are among the highest in the nation.

The states of Alabama, Texas, Georgia, New York, and Virginia experienced license sales reductions between 7 and 31%, when they changed to a 12 consecutive month license. This bill would require a 12 consecutive month license to be offered and establish a fee of 130% of the annual license fee for the 12 consecutive month license.

Analysis Prepared by: Ryan Ojakian / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0002557

Date of Hearing: April 26, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 986

Author:(Gallagher) – As Introduced Ver:February 16, 2017

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

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to reduce the fees required to obtain hunting licenses and various sport fishing entitlements for Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States (Veteran). Additionally, this bill requires sport fishing licenses to be issued for 12 consecutive months. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain a lifetime sportsman's license, an annual or lifetime hunting license, or an annual or lifetime sport fishing license, by 25%, for any resident of the state who is a Veteran and was honorably discharged.
2. Requires DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement required in addition to a sport fishing license by 25% for any resident of the state who is a Veteran and was honorably discharged, and by 50% for a Veteran who has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.
3. Requires a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, to be issued a sport fishing license for 12 consecutive months beginning on the date of issuance.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. According to DFW, annual unknown significant revenue losses estimated to be between $4.2 and $15.6 million (Fish and Game Preservation Fund and other special funds). This estimate is based on 2016 license revenues and assuming veterans represent 6.15% of the California population.
2. Onetime increased expenditures of $866,000 for development and implementation, and $221,000 for increased program staff (Fish and Game Preservation Fund).

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author, current law only offers discounts on fishing and hunting licenses to disabled or recovering Veterans. This bill would expand this discount to all honorably discharged Veterans to expand access to California’s outdoor opportunities and demonstrate California’s appreciation of their service. Additionally, under current law, an annual sport fishing license is valid from date of purchase until December 31^st. This bill would instead require licenses be issued for the period of 12 consecutive months from date of purchase.
2. Background: The DFW reports that in 2016, California issued approximately 15,577 disabled Veteran sport fishing licenses, which are issued on a calendar year basis. For the 2015/16 hunting license year, 3,885 disabled Veteran hunting licenses were issued. Hunting licenses are issued on a fiscal year basis, from July through June. DFW also indicates that 14 sport fishing licenses and 6 hunting licenses were issued to recovering service members in 2016. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, there are approximately 1.8 million Veterans living in California, with 331,645 receiving monthly disability compensation as of 2014. The provisions of this bill, to reduce fees for Veterans, if enacted, would therefore increase from approximately 331,600 to 1.8 million the number of individuals who would be eligible to purchase a reduced-fee hunting or sport fishing license.
3. DFW Funding Challenges. DFW has an annual operating shortfall of $20 million in its Fish and Game Preservation Fund, a non-dedicated account. Hunting and sport fishing licensing fees feed into the fund and provide 17.1% of DFW's total budget. The Governor proposed to address the annual operating shortfall in his proposed 2017-18 budget primarily through increased commercial fishing landing fees, and from a onetime shift of funds from a trust account funded by lifetime hunting and sport fishing licenses. The likelihood of the Governor’s proposal or some other approach moving forward is not known at this time.
4. Prior and Related Legislation. AB 1844 (Gallagher), of the 2015-2016 Legislative Session, would have provided a 25% discount for hunting, sport fishing, and lifetime licenses to, Veterans who are residents and have been honorably discharged. AB 1844 was held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations committee.

SB 187 (Berryhill), requires a sport fishing license to be issued for 12 consecutive months. SB 187 is currently pending in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

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

Date of Hearing: March 21, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE

Eduardo Garcia, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 986 (

Author:Gallagher) – As Introduced Ver:February 16, 2017

SUBJECT: Hunting and sport fishing licenses: sport fishing license duration: reduction in license fees for veterans

SUMMARY: Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to reduce the fee for a hunting license, sport fishing license, and lifetime license sold to a veteran of the United States. Additionally requires sport fishing licenses to be issued for 12 consecutive months. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain a lifetime sportsman's license, an annual or lifetime hunting license, or an annual or lifetime sport fishing license, by 25%, for any resident of the state who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and who was honorably discharged.
2. Requires the DFW to reduce the fee required to obtain any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement required in addition to a sport fishing license by 25% for any resident of the state who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and was honorably discharged, and by 50% for a veteran who has a 50% or greater service-connected disability.
3. Requires a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, to be issued a sport fishing license for 12 consecutive months beginning on the date of issuance.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires an annual hunting license to be issued to any resident of the state age 18 years or older upon payment of a base fee of $31.25, to persons under age 18 years upon payment of a base fee of $8.25, and to nonresident adults upon payment of a base fee of $108.50. The base fees were placed in statute in 2004 and are adjusted annually based on inflation. With adjustments, the current fee levels for annual hunting licenses for 2015 are: $47.01 for an adult resident hunting license, $12.45 for a junior hunting license, and $164.16 for a nonresident hunting license.
2. Requires a sport fishing license to be issued to a resident, 16 years of age or older, for a base fee of $31.25, and to a nonresident for a base fee of $84. The base fees were placed in statute in 2004 and are adjusted annually based on inflation. With annual adjustments, the current license fee for a resident adult sport fishing license is $47.01, and for nonresidents is $126.62.
3. Authorizes a disabled veteran or recovering service member to purchase a reduced-fee hunting license, or a reduced-fee sport fishing license, for a base fee of $4.00, adjusted for inflation is currently $6.95. Defines a disabled veteran as a person having a 50% or greater service-connected disability and an honorable discharge from military service. A recovering service member is a member of the military, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member's military service.
4. Requires lifetime sport fishing or hunting licenses to be issued upon payment of a base fee that ranges from $365 to $600 depending on the age of the applicant. The base fees were placed in statute in 2004. Current lifetime sport fishing and hunting licenses adjusted for inflation are $517 to $844.50, depending on age. Additional lifetime packages are also available for bird hunting, big game hunting and additional fishing privileges.
5. Requires the Fish and Game Commission (FGC) to adjust the amount of all of the above fees, as necessary, to fully recover but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the DFW and the FGC, relating to those licenses.
6. Makes reduced-fee sport fishing licenses available to low income seniors for $6.95, and for free to low income Native Americans and persons who are blind, developmentally disabled, or mobility impaired. Also makes free motor vehicle hunting licenses available to any mobility impaired disabled hunter who must use a motor vehicle to pursue game, and is either permanently or fully confined to a wheel chair, is an amputee, or depends on the aid of a walker or crutches to walk.
7. Requires the purchase of certain sport fishing report cards, validations, or entitlements, in addition to a sport fishing license, to fish for certain species of fish or in certain locations. Examples of sport fishing report cards include a sport fishing ocean enhancement stamp, a steelhead trout report card, a second rod sport fishing validation, and a salmon punch card.
8. Requires residents and nonresidents 16 years of age and older to hold a sport fishing license to fish. Makes available for purchase an annual sport fishing license valid for the January to December calendar year, a 10 day license for nonresidents only, 2 day licenses and 1 day licenses.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown potential loss of revenues to the DFW.

COMMENTS: Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to reduce the fee for a hunting license, sport fishing license, and lifetime license sold to a veteran of the United States. Additionally requires sport fishing licenses to be issued for 12 consecutive months.

1. Author’s Statement: Current law only offers discounts on fishing and hunting licenses to disabled or recovering veterans. This bill would expand this discount to all honorably discharged veterans to expand access to California’s outdoor opportunities and demonstrate California’s appreciation of their service. Additionally, under current law, an annual sport fishing license is valid from date of purchase until December 31^st. This bill would instead require licenses be issued for the period of 12 consecutive months from date of purchase.
2. Background: The DFW reports that in 2016, California issued approximately 15,577 disabled veteran sport fishing licenses, fishing licenses are issued on the . For the 2015/16 hunting license year, 3,885 disabled veteran hunting licenses were issued. Hunting licenses are issued on a fiscal year basis, from July through June. The DFW also indicates that 14 sport fishing licenses and 6 hunting licenses were issued to recovering service members in 2016. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, there are approximately 1.8 million veterans living in California, with 331,645 receiving monthly disability compensation as of 2014. The provisions of this bill, to reduce fees for veterans, if enacted, would therefore increase from approximately 331,600 to 1.8 million the number of individuals who would be eligible to purchase a reduced-fee hunting or sport fishing license.
   
   DFW Revenue Impacts From a Veterans Discount: According to the DFW, 17.1% percent of the DFW's total budget comes from sales of sport fishing and hunting licenses. If the availability of discounted licenses to veterans results in a loss of revenue to the DFW that is not made up, the DFW could face a deficit in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. The DFW has an annual operating shortfall of $20 million in its Fish and Game Preservation Fund, non dedicated account. Hunting and sport fishing licensing fees feed into the fund. To the extent this bill changes revenue from hunting and sport fishing licenses, this bill could exacerbate that shortfall. In the January budget, the Governor proposed to address the annual operating shortfall primarily through increased commercial fishing landing fees, and from a onetime shift of funds from a trust account funded by lifetime hunting and sport fishing licenses. The likelihood of the Governor’s proposal or some other approach moving forward is not known at this time.

Calendar Year and 12 Consecutive Month Sport Fishing License: Provisions in this bill to shift the issuance of a sport fishing license from the calendar year to 12 consecutive months have been attempted several times before. The issues raised in the past have been questions about an implementation challenge with the transition to an Automated License Data System (ALDS) for hunting and fishing licenses; how fishery report cards, validations, and entitlements would be tracked; and what the impacts of this change would mean for DFW revenue.

The ALDS is now in place as opposed to when previous efforts to shift to a 12 consecutive month license occurred. As far as the ALDS system is concerned, the question moving forward with this policy is how long it would take to transition the ALDS to a 12 consecutive month license and what the cost of that shift would be. According to the DFW, it would take approximately one year. The DFW did not provide a cost estimate.

In order to ensure the long term viability of certain fisheries, specific report cards and validations limiting take, are required for particular species. To date those have been synced with the sport fishing license and have been issued on a calendar year basis. If the 12 consecutive month license policy were to move forward, additional statutory or regulatory changes to conform the report card and validation time periods, would be necessary. This will create some enforcement and angler education challenges, with likely increased license, report card, and or validation violations.

It is not known what the impacts of this change for the DFW revenue would be. Proponents argue that it will provide greater value fishing licenses and drive sales up increasing revenue. It may however create greater gaps in time where regular sport fishing license holders go without purchasing a license. For example, an angler who has historically purchased an annual license for a week long trip every year may have an opportunity to purchase one license in two calendar years depending on the timing of the trip.

1. Prior and Related Legislation:
2. AB 1844 (Gallagher), 2016, would have provided a 25% discount for hunting, sport fishing, and lifetime licenses to, veterans who are residents and have been honorably discharged. AB 1844 was held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations committee.
3. AB 478 (Waldron), 2017, would raise the age that it is necessary to obtain a sport fishing license from 16 to 18 years of age. AB 478 is scheduled to be heard in this committee on March 21, 2017.
4. SB 187 (Berryhill), 2017, would require a sport fishing license to be issued for 12 consecutive months. SB 187 is currently in Senate Rules committee
5. SB 1081 (Morrell), 2016, would have established a flat $5.00 fee for a hunting or sport fishing license, and reduced the fee by 50 percent for all other hunting and fishing related fees, for all resident and nonresident honorably discharged veterans. SB 1081 was held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations committee.
6. SB 345 (Berryhill), 2015, would have created a junior sport fishing license for those 16 and 17 years of age. SB 345 was held in the Assembly Appropriations committee.
7. SB 583 (Berryhill), 2013, would have required a five year pilot program, for a sport fishing license to be issued for 12 consecutive months. SB 583 was held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations committee.
8. SB 1287 (Harman), Chapter 409, Statutes of 2012, and SB 1288 (Harman), Chapter 410, Statutes of 2012, requires the DFW to offer reduced fee sport fishing and hunting licenses to military personnel who are recovering service members.
9. AB 1786 (Mansoor), 2011, would have required sport fishing licenses to be issued for 12 consecutive months. Was substantially amended after passing the Senate Natural Resources committee.
10. Supporting Arguments: Reducing hunting and fishing license fees by 25% for honorably discharged veterans is appropriate. Most fishing license are purchased sometime after the beginning of the year resulting in less than a full year of fishing even though a full year of license fees are paid. This bill would rectify this situation by providing fishermen a full year of licensing after a license is purchased.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California Sportfishing League

California Sportsman’s Lobby, The

Outdoor Sportsmen’s Coalition of California

Safari Club International

Opposition

None on File

Analysis Prepared by: Ryan Ojakian / W., P., & W. /