Article 3. Native Species Conservation And Enhancement Account of California Fish And Game Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 7.5. >> Article 3.

The department shall maintain within the Fish and Game Preservation Fund a Native Species Conservation and Enhancement Account, which is hereby created, to permit separate accountability for the receipt and expenditure of moneys derived through donation from persons or organizations for the support of nongame and native plant species conservation and enhancement programs.

Whenever the department receives funds from persons or organizations for the support of nongame and native plant species conservation and enhancement programs, such funds shall be deposited in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund and credited to the Native Species Conservation and Enhancement Account.

The department shall provide each person or organization making a contribution of five dollars ($5) or more for the support of nongame and native plant species conservation and enhancement programs a suitably prepared certificate, decal, medallion, or other object of public appreciation signifying the interest of such person or organization in the conservation and enhancement of native plant and wildlife species. The commission shall approve the form, nature, and content of any certificate, decal, medallion or other object proposed for use by the department pursuant to this section.

The department may take all appropriate measures to encourage donations by individuals, organizations, and public agencies to the Native Species Conservation and Enhancement Account, including, but not limited to, public information concerning the status of native plant and wildlife species threatened by the activities of man. The cost to the department to carry out the provisions of this section may be charged to the Native Species Conservation and Enhancement Account.

(a) The director shall designate those particular areas of land managed by the department at which possession of a valid annual wildlife pass or day use pass shall be required. No designation shall be effective until a management plan for the area has been presented at a public meeting and the plan has been approved by the director.
  (b) No person shall enter the designated area unless that person possesses an annual wildlife area pass or a day use pass issued pursuant to Section 1765, a valid hunting license issued pursuant to Section 3031, a valid trapping license issued pursuant to Section 4006, or a valid sport fishing license issued pursuant to Section 7149.05, 7150, or 7151, or that person is a member of a tour by an organized youth or school group that has been issued a day use pass.
  (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), possession of a license or pass shall not be required of any person who:
  (1) Is passing through the area on a public right-of-way.
  (2) Possesses authorization by the commission or the department to conduct scientific or educational research.
  (3) Is discharging duties in the course of employment, as specified by the department.
  (4) Possesses written authorization from the department to enter the area for a specific purpose.

(a) The department may issue an annual wildlife area pass or a day use pass that authorizes the bearer to enter and use facilities and programs on the department managed lands subject to Section 1764 for the period of a calendar year or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder thereof. The fee for the annual wildlife area pass is ten dollars ($10). The fee for the day use pass is two dollars ($2); however, a tour by an organized youth or school group is exempt from the payment of this fee. The fees shall be adjusted in the calendar years following 1989 in accordance with Section 713. A person under the age of 16 years is exempt from the payment of fees under this section for an annual wildlife area pass or a day use pass.
  (b) Any person eligible for a reduced fee or free sportfishing license pursuant to Section 7150 or 7151 shall be issued an annual wildlife area pass upon application therefor and under the same conditions and for the same fee as provided in those sections. There shall be appropriated in the annual Budget Act from the General Fund, for transfer to the Native Species Conservation and Enhancement Account, a sum equal to two dollars ($2) for each free annual wildlife area pass issued pursuant to this subdivision during the preceding calendar year.

The department may also offer for sale a native species stamp, promotional materials, and nature study aids. The fee for a native species stamp is seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50), as adjusted in the calendar years following 1989 in accordance with Section 713.

(a) The revenues from fees and sales under this article and Section 1055.3 shall be deposited in the Native Species Conservation and Enhancement Account in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, and shall be available for appropriation for expenditure in the 1988-89 and subsequent fiscal years in the following order of priority:
  (1) Repayment of any loan to the account from the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. The amounts repaid annually shall be prorated to complete the repayment with interest on or before July 1, 1993. Interest shall be calculated at the rate earned by the Surplus Money Investment Fund from the date funds for the loan were advanced to the date of repayment.
  (2) The costs of ongoing wildlife management programs incurred at any lands managed by the department alone or cooperatively with other governmental agencies, irrespective of their designation pursuant to Section 1764, that are not adequately funded under subdivision (a) or (c) of Section 711.
  (3) The costs of natural history education and recreational programs and improvements at areas designated pursuant to Section 1764.
  (4) Augmentation of wildlife management programs and acquisition of additional lands at areas designated pursuant to Section 1764.
  (b) Revenues from fees and sales under this article and Section 1055.3 shall be used to augment and not to replace money appropriated from existing funds available to the department for the purposes specified in subdivision (a).

The Legislature finds and declares that the revenues from fees and sales under this article are related to the protection and propagation of fish and game within the meaning of Section 9 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

The department may take all appropriate measures to encourage persons to obtain annual wildlife area passes and day use passes issued pursuant to Section 1765, and to promote the sale of native species stamps, promotional materials, and nature study aids to provide revenue for the support of the department. The measures may include, but are not limited to, the dissemination of public information concerning the status of wildlife, fish, and plant species, conservation activities of the department, and programs and facilities provided by the department for the enjoyment of the lands managed by the department.