SB 187: Sport fishing licenses: duration.

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. Existing law specifies that the requirements for issuance of a license only apply to licenses, permits, reservations, tags, and other entitlements issued through the Automated License Data System.

This bill would instead require a resident or a nonresident, 16 years of age or older, upon payment of the a specified fee, to be issued a sport fishing license for the period of 12 consecutive months beginning on the date specified on the license. license, instead of for the period of a calendar year, or the remainder thereof. The bill would require the commission to include, among the costs required to be recovered by an adjustment of the fee amount, transition costs related to the new licensing period. The bill would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to collect all relevant and appropriate information necessary to justify the amount of the sport fishing license fees, including information about enforcement costs. The bill would require the department to submit to the Legislature a written report on the implementation of the new licensing period that also includes the information collected to justify the amount of the fees for licenses issued for the new licensing period. The bill would delete the provision specifying that the license issuance requirements only apply to licenses, permits, reservations, tags, and other entitlements issued through the Automated License Data System. The provisions of this bill would be operative beginning January 1, 2020, until January 1, 2025, except for the change regarding the Automated License Data System, which would be operative on January 1, 2018.