MEASURE TO PERMANENTLY FUND SALMON RESTORATION

[Digger]

SACRAMENTO -- With the full backing of CalTrout, Sen Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata), introduced SB 1125 in the California Senate on January 10th. SB 1125 would permanently protect state funding for salmon habitat restoration on the North Coast and other environmental programs.

”California's natural resources infrastructure must be a high priority throughout the state,” Chesbro said in a press release. “On the North Coast the restoration of historic salmon and steelhead runs are critical for both our economic and environmental well being. SB 1125 will lead the state to a sustainable use of the revenue from leasing state resource leases in a way that protects our marine and coastal environment.”

The bill would permanently establish the Resources Trust Fund (RTF), which is funded by a percentage of revenue generated by oil and gas leases. These funds are received and deposited in the state treasury by the State Lands Commission.

The Fund would be allocated among the Marine Life and Marine Reserve Management Account, Fish and Game Fund, the State Parks System Deferred Maintenance Account, the Natural Resources Infrastructure Fund and the Salmon and Steelhead Trout Restoration Account, which would garner about $12 million annually.

CalTrout joined Chesbro in introducing SB 1125.

”SB 1125 needs to become law because of the economic and intrinsic value of California's remaining native runs of wild salmon and steelhead trout, many of which are listed as either 'threatened' or 'endangered' under the state and federal endangered species acts,” said Brian Stranko of CalTrout.

Stranko added, “CalTrout believes that the continuing escalation of world oil prices is likely to continue and means that California is receiving record amounts of revenue from its oil leases administered by the State Lands Commission. We believe that California should continue to invest some of this windfall in programs and projects benefiting the natural resources and environment of the state. SB 1125 makes this possible.”

The legislation needs to be in print for 30 days and then will be assigned to a policy committee for its first hearing in March.

[Darian]

Hi Digger,.... Thanks for the heads up on this. After reading the Bill, it looks like an priority change in accounting for the revenues received from off-shore gas/oil production.... Doesn't appear to be a mandate for spending the funds, tho.

Some history on this (from the Senate analysis): this reveue source has been around since 1997 and includes a "sunset" provision that expires at the end of June 2007. Revenue volumes have varied a lot over the life of the law. Apparently, potential revenues will be high, this year. Thus, the attention.

A second, related Bill is, in my opinion, more important. AB 2134 is intended to extend the "sunset" provision. Unfortunately, a similar Bill by Carol Migden was vetoed, by Ahhnold, last year. It seems that over the last few years, the money taken in under the law was diverted to the General Fund (....not spent as intended) to help pay the State's bills. Currently, State revenues are high. So, there's a chance that the money will be allocated/spent for their intended purposes. I wouldn't hold out much hope for extension of the "sunset" provision, tho. If it isn't extended, the changes proposed under SB 1125 would become moot.