California Senate Bill SB987 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 987INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Monning FEBRUARY 12, 2014 An act to add Section 710.9 to the Fish and Game Code, and to amend Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, relating to wildlife. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 987, as introduced, Monning. Department of Fish and Wildlife: California Sea Otter Fund. Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife and sets forth the duties of that department. Existing law, until January 1, 2016, establishes the California Sea Otter Fund and allows taxpayers to designate on their tax returns that a specified amount in excess of their tax liability be transferred to the fund. Existing law requires a specified portion of money in that fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be allocated to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for the purposes of establishing a sea otter fund to be used within the department's index coding system for increased investigation, prevention, and enforcement actions. This bill would authorize the department to take appropriate measures to encourage taxpayers to make contributions on their tax returns to the California Sea Otter Fund and would also authorize the department to disseminate information to the public about the status of California sea otters. The bill would require that costs incurred by the department in carrying out these activities be paid for with money allocated to the department from the fund. 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 710.9 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read: 710.9. (a) The department may take appropriate measures to encourage taxpayers to make contributions as a voluntary checkoff on a tax return to the California Sea Otter Fund established in Article 5.6 (commencing with Section 18754) of Chapter 3 of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (b) The department may disseminate information to the public concerning the status of California sea otters. (c) The costs incurred by the department in carrying out the activities authorized by this section shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be paid for with money allocated to the department pursuant to Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. SEC. 2. Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to read: 18754.2. (a) All money transferred to the California Sea Otter Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be allocated as follows: (1) To the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller for reimbursement of all costs incurred by the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller in connection with their duties under this article. (2) Fifty percent of the revenues remaining after allocation pursuant to paragraph (1), to the Department of Fish and  Game   Wildlife  for the purposes of establishing a sea otter fund to be used within the department's index coding system for increased investigation, prevention, and enforcement  actions.   actions and for the purposes of carrying out the activities authorized in Section 710.9 of the Fish and Game Code.  (3) Fifty percent of the revenues remaining after allocation pursuant to paragraph (1), to the California Coastal Conservancy for competitive grants and contracts to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for research, science, protection, projects, or programs related to the Federal Sea Otter Recovery Plan or improving the nearshore ocean ecosystem, including, but not limited to, program activities to reduce sea otter mortality. The projects or programs may also address pathogens and water and wastewater treatment technologies. (b) The California Coastal Conservancy shall solicit available federal, private, matching, and other dollars to maximize or leverage funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (3) to provide the greatest benefit for sea otters. (c) The California Coastal Conservancy may enter into interagency agreements with public agencies for purposes of paragraph (3).