California Senate Bill SB987 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 987AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 3, 2014 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 24, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Senator Monning  (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member   Stone   )  FEBRUARY 12, 2014 An act to add Section 710.9 to the Fish and Game Code,  to add Section 31122 to the Public Resources Code,  and to amend Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, relating to wildlife. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 987, as amended, Monning.  Department of Fish and Wildlife:  California Sea Otter  Fund.   Fund: Department of Fish and Wildlife: State Coastal Conservancy.  Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife and sets forth the duties of that department. Existing  law,   law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy with prescribed powers and responsibilities for implementing a program of agricultural land protection, area restoration, and resource enhancement within the coastal zone, as defined.   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,  to  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.   fund, as prescribed, and to the State Coastal Conservancy for competitive grants and contracts for research, projects,   and programs related to the Federal Sea Otter Recovery Plan or improving the nearshore ocean ecosystem.  This bill would  authorize   require  the department  and the conservancy  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  and the conservancy  to disseminate information to the public about the status of California sea otters. The bill would require that costs incurred by the department  and the conservancy  in carrying out these activities be paid for  , upon appropriation,  with money allocated to the department  and the conservancy  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   shall  take appropriate measures, including, but not limited to, public outreach activities, to encourage taxpayers to make contributions by 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  required an   d  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 31122 is added to the   Public Resources Code   , to read:   31122. (a) The conservancy shall take appropriate measures, including, but not limited to, public outreach activities, to encourage taxpayers to make contributions by 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 conservancy may disseminate information to the public concerning the status of California sea otters. (c) The costs incurred by the conservancy in carrying out the activities required and authorized by this section shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be paid for with money allocated to the conservancy pursuant to Section 18754.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.   SEC. 2.   SEC. 3.  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 Wildlife for the purposes of establishing a sea otter fund to be used  within the department's index coding system   for sea otter conservation, including, but not limited to,  for increased investigation, prevention, and enforcement actions  related to sea otter mortality  and for the purposes of carrying out the activities  required and  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 State 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.   mortality and for the purposes of carrying out the activities required and authorized in Section 31122 of the Public Resources Code.  The projects or programs may also address pathogens and water and wastewater treatment technologies. (b) The State Coastal Conservancy shall solicit available federal, private, matching, and other dollars to maximize or leverage funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) to provide the greatest benefit for sea otters. (c) The State Coastal Conservancy may enter into interagency agreements with public agencies for purposes of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).