POLITICS: State Revenues for Fish and Game – USSA News

Division 10, Chapter 1 of the Fish and Game Code deals with state revenues. Section 13000 created the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in the State Treasury.

Section 13001 provides that all money collected under the provisions of this code and of any other law relating to the protection and preservation of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibia must be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

Section 13001.5 requires the department to prepare annually, for inclusion in the Governor’s Budget, a fund condition statement for the Fish and Game Preservation Fund that displays both of the specified items of information, which must also be displayed on its website.

Section 13002 requires the department to pay into the State Treasury at least once a month the money received by it from the sale of licenses issued under the provisions of this code.

Section 13003 specifies that all fines and forfeitures imposed or collected in any court of this state for violations of any of the provisions of this code or regulation, or any other law providing for the protection or preservation of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibia, must be deposited as soon as practicable after the receipt with the county treasurer of the county in which the court is situated. Amounts deposited are to be paid at least once a month as specified.

Section 13005 requires the department to deposit funds from the sale of lifetime hunting licenses and lifetime hunting privileges and lifetime sport fishing licenses and lifetime privileges as specified.

Section 13006 states that the money collected from the penalties on fines, penalties, or forfeitures levied are to be used only to pay the department’s costs of support for the department’s secret witness program. The purpose of the secret witness program is to facilitate the enforcement of this code and regulations adopted pursuant to this code. Contributions to the secret witness program may also be made.

Section 13007 requires 33¹/₃ percent of all sport fishing license fees collected to be deposited into the Hatchery and Inland Fisheries Fund, which is hereby established in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund may be expended, consistent with the Strategic Plan for Trout Management and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support programs of the department related to management, maintenance, and capital improvement of California’s fish hatcheries, the Heritage and Wild Trout program, and enforcement activities, and to support other activities eligible to be funded from revenue generated by sport fishing license fees.

Section 13010 established the Fish and Wildlife Pollution Account in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

Section 13011 provides that the state portion of any recovery or settlement of money damages received pursuant to any citation or charges brought under the following sections by the people by or through any state or local public entity is to be deposited in the specified subaccounts.

Section 13012 prohibits funds on deposit in the subaccounts from exceeding the amounts prescribed below, adjusted to equal 1995 dollars.

Section 13013 specifies that appropriations from either the Oil Pollution Administration Subaccount or the Hazardous Materials Administration Subaccount cannot exceed one third of the maximum fund level established in order to maintain a prudent reserve for future appropriations.

Section 13014 established, initially in the Special Deposit Fund, and continued in existence, two specified accounts.