LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Published: Sep 15, 2010 LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT

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WON LEGISLATIVE NEWS Call the governor: three pro-hunting bills on his desk! Western Outdoor News SACRAMENT0 —The California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) is asking California hunters, as well as our 40-plus member organizations, to contact the Governor’s office as soon as possible in support of three separate pieces of positive state legislation. The following COHA-sponsored bills received broad bipartisan support within the State Legislature, and are currently awaiting consideration by Governor Schwarzenegger: SB 1058 (Harman) would provide accountability and transparency over the expenditure of hunting license tag/stamp revenues to help ensure that the funds are used for game species conservation and public hunting purposes. The bill would create a single, consolidated fiscal account for all big game tag funds, create an advisory committee of sportsmen’s groups to review and provide comment on proposed expenditures of hunting license tag/stamp monies and facilitate greater nonprofit assistance with related conservation projects. For a sample letter, go to: actionteam@outdoorheritage.org.   AB 1254 (Berryhill) would authorize the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to temporarily suspend, as well as seek reimbursement of, a County’s expenditure of DFG fine monies should DFG find that the County is improperly spending such funds on purposes unrelated to fish and wildlife conservation. The bill also authorizes DFG to offer incentives (e.g. special hunting opportunities) to hunter education instructors in order to recruit and maintain a sufficient number of instructors statewide. For a sample letter, go to: actionteam@outdoorheritage.org. AB 979 (Berryhill) would keep local governments from arbitrarily banning or restricting hunting and fishing activities. This measure is necessary as growing urban development, competing recreational uses and a general anti-hunting sentiment continue to impact on traditional outdoor opportunity. For a sample letter, go to: actionteam@outdoorheritage.org. Support letters may be faxed to the Governor at (916) 558-3160. You may also e-mail his office by visiting his Web site.