Department of Fish and Game: scientific collector's permits.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Fish and Game to issue permits, subject to restrictions and regulations that the Fish and Game Commission determines are desirable, to take or possess, in any part of the state, for scientific, educational, or propagation purposes, mammals, birds and the nests and eggs thereof, fish, amphibians, reptiles, or any other form of plant or animal life. Violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill would authorize the issuance of a permit for scientific purposes, on the payment of a specified fee, to a California-certified small business, an aquarium accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, or other appropriate institution, in the name of a principal scientific investigator or the permitted entity. The bill would authorize the department to approve individual temporary employees or volunteers to work under the permit, after receiving notification from the permittee. The bill would authorize the amendment of the permit, including, but not limited to, the addition or removal of individual temporary employees or volunteers working under the permit, on the payment of a specified fee. The bill would make it a misdemeanor for a permittee to allow a temporary employee or volunteer to work under a permit without approval from the department, creating a new crime, and thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.