BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session AB 1844 (Gallagher) - Hunting and fishing licenses: reduced license fees: veterans ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: May 27, 2016 |Policy Vote: N.R. & W. 8 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: August 1, 2016 |Consultant: Narisha Bonakdar | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: AB 1844 requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to reduce the lifetime sportsman's, lifetime hunting, and lifetime fishing license fees by 25 percent for honorably discharged veterans. Fiscal Impact: Unknown, but significant revenue loss to CDFW from discount sales of hunting and fishing licenses (Fish and Game Preservation Fund, and Lifetime License Trust Account). According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, as of 2014, approximately 1.8 million Veterans reside in California, with 331,645 receiving monthly disability compensation (and therefore already eligible for discounted licenses). This bill increases eligibility by approximately 1.5 million (from 331,600 to 1.8 million Veterans). As an example, a lifetime hunting or fishing license currently AB 1844 (Gallagher) Page 1 of ? costs at least $517 (and up to up to $844). Under this bill, the lowest cost lifetime license would be discounted by $129 (up to $388). If only a quarter of a percent (.25 percent) of eligible California Veterans purchase a discounted lifetime license, the associated revenue loss would equal $474,462. Background: The CDFW manages California's fish, wildlife, and plant resources. It also regulates hunting and sport fishing within the state. Each year, the Fish and Game Commission sets license fees and take restrictions, as well as other regulations that the CDFW implements and enforces. California law requires that most licenses and other CDFW program fees are set at a level sufficient to cover administrative costs. Under current law, an individual must obtain a hunting license prior to taking any bird or mammal, and a fishing license prior to taking any fish, reptiles, or amphibians. In many cases, additional tags, validations, or enhancements are required to take certain species or from certain areas. Fish and wildlife offers a variety of different types of hunting and fishing licenses, including a lifetime license option. The cost of a lifetime license depends on the applicant's age. Currently, the cost for a lifetime hunting or fishing license is $517.00 for persons 9 years or younger, $844.50 for persons 10 to 39 years old; $761.00 for persons 40 to 61 years old; and $517.00 for persons 62 years old or older. Certain groups are eligible for free or a reduced fee annual hunting and sport fishing licenses. Low income senior citizens, veterans with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability, and recovering service members, as defined, are eligible for a reduced fee fishing license ($6.95). Free sport fishing licenses are provided to low-income Native Americans and mobility impaired, blind, or developmentally disabled individuals. Reduced fee hunting licenses are available to hunters under age 18 ($12.45), veterans with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability ($6.95), and recovering service members ($6.95). Proposed Law: AB 1844 (Gallagher) Page 2 of ? This bill: 1)Requires CDFW to reduce the lifetime sportsman's license fee by 25 percent for honorably discharged veterans. 2)Requires CDFW to reduce the lifetime hunting license fee by 25 percent for honorably discharged veterans. 3)Requires CDFW to reduce the lifetime sport fishing license fee by 25 percent for honorably discharged veterans. Related Legislation: AB 1972 (Chau) expands the population of veterans eligible for the Distinguished Veterans Parks Pass to include all veterans with 50 percent or greater service disability, not just those who served in times of war. AB 1972 is pending in this committee. Staff Comments:1) This bill provides unique benefits to one population over others that might be equally in need or deserving of these benefits. This disparate treatment creates pressure to provide similar benefits to additional populations to resolve the disparity. It may also create pressure to expand the benefits offered to this population. As such, staff notes that this bill may result in significant cost pressures on state resources in addition to the costs outlined in the fiscal impact statement. -- END --