California Assembly Bill AB1844 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1844AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gallagher  (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members   Baker,   Bigelow,   Brough,   Dodd,   and Wagner   )  (  Coauthor:   Senator   Berryhill  Coauthors:   Senators   Berryhill   and Morrell  ) FEBRUARY 9, 2016 An act to amend Section 714 of, and to add Sections  3034 and 7152   3034, 7152, and 7152.5  to, the Fish and Game Code, relating to fish and wildlife. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1844, as amended, Gallagher. Hunting and fishing licenses: reduced license fees: veterans. 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. Under existing law, a sport fishing license grants the privilege to take fish, reptiles, and amphibians. 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 sportsman's 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  an unspecified percentage     25%  for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United  States   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.  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 714 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read: 714. (a) In addition to Section 3031, 3031.2, 7149.05, or 7149.2 and notwithstanding Section 3037, the department shall issue lifetime sportsman's licenses pursuant to this section. A lifetime sportsman' s license authorizes the taking of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians anywhere in this state in accordance with law for purposes other than profit for the life of the person to whom issued unless revoked for a violation of this code or regulations adopted pursuant to this code. A lifetime sportsman's license is not transferable. A lifetime sportsman's license does not include any special tags, stamps, or other entitlements. (b) A lifetime sportsman's license may be issued to residents, as follows: (1) To a person 62 years of age or over upon payment of a base fee of seven hundred thirty dollars ($730). (2) To a person 40 years of age or over and less than 62 years of age upon payment of a base fee of one thousand eighty dollars ($1,080). (3) To a person 10 years of age or over and less than 40 years of age upon payment of a base fee of one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200). (4) To a person less than 10 years of age upon payment of a base fee of seven hundred thirty dollars ($730). (c) This section does not require a person less than 16 years of age to obtain a license to take fish, reptiles, or  amphibia   amphibians  for purposes other than profit or to obtain a license to take birds or mammals, except as required by law. (d) This section does not exempt an applicant for a license from meeting other qualifications or requirements otherwise established by law for the privilege of sport hunting or sport fishing. (e) Upon payment of a base fee of four hundred forty-five dollars ($445), a person holding a lifetime hunting license or lifetime sportsman's license shall be issued annually one deer tag application pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4332 and five wild pig tags issued pursuant to Section 4654. Lifetime privileges issued pursuant to this subdivision are not transferable. (f) Upon payment of a base fee of two hundred ten dollars ($210), a person holding a lifetime hunting license or lifetime sportsman's license shall be entitled annually to the privileges afforded to a person holding a state duck stamp or validation issued pursuant to Section 3700.1 and an upland game bird stamp or validation issued pursuant to Section 3682.1. Lifetime privileges issued pursuant to this subdivision are not transferable. (g) The base fees specified in this section are applicable commencing January 1, 2004, and shall be adjusted annually thereafter pursuant to Section 713. (h) The commission shall adjust the amount of the fees specified in subdivision (g), as necessary, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative implementation costs of the department and the commission relating to those licenses. (i) (1) The department shall reduce the fee required to obtain a lifetime sportsman's license issued pursuant to subdivision (a) by  ___   25  percent for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United  States.   States and who was honorably discharged.  (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (h), the commission shall not increase the fees required to obtain a lifetime sportsman's license for a person not receiving the discount pursuant to paragraph (1) to recover the cost of providing the discount. SEC. 2. Section 3034 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read: 3034. (a) The department shall reduce the fee required to obtain hunting licenses specified in Sections 3031 and 3031.2 by  ____   25  percent for a person who meets the following requirements: (1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United  States.   States and was honorably discharged.  (2) The person is a resident of California. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 3031 and subdivision (f) of Section 3031.2, the commission shall not increase the fees required to obtain the licenses specified in Sections 3031 and 3031.2 for a person not receiving the discount pursuant to this section to recover the cost of providing the discount. SEC. 3. Section 7152 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read: 7152. (a) The department shall reduce the fee required to obtain sport fishing licenses specified in Sections 7149.05 and 7149.2 by  ____   25  percent for a person who meets the following requirements: (1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United  States.   States and was honorably discharged.  (2) The person is a resident of California. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (e) of Section 7149.05 or Section 7149.2, the commission shall not increase the fees required to obtain the licenses specified in Sections 7149.05 and 7149.2 for a person not receiving the discount pursuant to this section to recover the cost of providing the discount.  SEC. 4.   Section 7152.5 is added to the   Fish and Game Code   , to read:   7152.5. (a) The department shall reduce the fee, including the fee specified in subdivision (e) of Section 7149.2, required to obtain any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement required in addition to a valid sport fishing license to take an amphibian, reptile, or fish by 25 percent for a person who meets the following requirements: (1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and was honorably discharged. (2) The person is a resident of California. (b) The department shall reduce the fee, including the fee specified in subdivision (e) of Section 7149.2, required to obtain any sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement required in addition to a valid sport fishing license to take an amphibian, reptile, or fish by 50 percent for a person who meets the following requirements: (1) The person is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and was honorably discharged. (2) The person has a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability. (3) The person is a resident of California. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (g) of Section 6596.1, subdivision (c) of Section 7149.8, or any other law, the commission shall not increase the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement for a person not receiving the discount pursuant to this section to recover the cost of providing the discount.