BILL NUMBER: SB 1434	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 21, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wolk

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add Section 711.1 to the Fish and Game Code, relating to
fish and wildlife.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1434, as amended, Wolk. Funding of fish and wildlife programs.
   Existing federal law imposes a sales tax on the sale of bows and
arrows, ammunition, and certain firearms. Existing federal law, the
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, makes certain revenues
collected from those taxes available to the states by requiring the
Secretary of the Interior to apportion an amount available to each
state according to a specified formula. The federal act authorizes a
state, through its fish and wildlife department, to submit programs
or projects for wildlife restoration and hunter safety education to
the Secretary of the Interior for funding of up to 75% of the cost of
those programs or projects from the amount apportioned to the state.

   Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife in
the Natural Resources Agency, administered  through 
 by  the Director of Fish and Wildlife. Existing law
requires the department, with approval of the Fish and Game
Commission, to perform acts as may be necessary to the conduct and
establishment of cooperative wildlife-restoration projects, in
compliance with the federal act and regulations adopted pursuant to
the federal act. Under existing law, the Legislature has made
findings that the costs of hunting programs shall be provided out of
hunting revenues, reimbursements, and federal funds received for
hunting programs, and from other funds appropriated by the
Legislature for this purpose. The Legislature has also made findings
that these revenues, reimbursements, and federal funds shall not be
used to support commercial fishing programs, free hunting and fishing
license programs, or nongame fish and wildlife programs.
   This bill would require the  department to only apply for
grant funds   expenditure of all federal grant moneys
made  available to the state under the federal act to 
fund eligible projects that are   be  consistent
with  that act. The bill would declare the Legislature's intent
that  the legislative findings described above  and that
  shall apply to the federal act and that the moneys
expended under the act  fulfill one or more specified purposes.
The bill would require the department to post a brief description of
projects funded by moneys received from the federal act on its
Internet Web site. The bill would require the department to consult
with specified hunting advisory committees regarding any project
funded by the federal act.  The bill would prohibit any
executive action from limiting statutory or other applicable
authorizations for which the department receives funding exclusively
from non-General Fund sources. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 711.1 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:
   711.1.  (a) The  department shall only apply for grant
funds   expenditure of all federal grant moneys made
 available to the state pursuant to the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 669 et seq.)  to fund
eligible projects under the act that are   shall be
 consistent with  the legislative finding  
that act. It is the intent of the Legislature that the legislative
findings  expressed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of
Section 711  and that fulfill one or more of the following
purposes:   shall apply to this subdivision.  
   (b) The expenditure of the moneys described in subdivision (a)
shall fulfill one or more of the following purposes: 
   (1) Management of the department's wildlife areas or other lands
open to the public for hunting  , or both   and
other public priority uses listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d)
of Section 1745  .
   (2) Conservation of  , or scientific research concerning,
 game species.
   (3) Support of the department's hunting-related programs,
including hunter education and target shooting. 
   (b) 
    (c)  The department shall post a brief description of
projects or programs funded by moneys received pursuant to the
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act on its Internet Web site. The
description shall include information about the budget of each
project or program. 
   (c) 
    (d)  The department shall consult with the advisory
committees established pursuant to Sections 3684 and 3953 regarding
any project funded by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act.

   (d) No executive action shall limit statutory and other applicable
authorizations for which the department receives funding exclusively
from non-General Fund sources.