Personal income tax: voluntary contributions: California Sea Otter Fund.

The Personal Income Tax Law allows, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2006, and before January 1, 2011, individual taxpayers to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of the California Sea Otter Fund. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, and before January 1, 2016, unless as otherwise provided, allow taxpayers to designate on their tax returns that a specified amount in excess of their tax liability be transferred to the California Sea Otter Fund, which would be created by this bill. This bill would require money in that fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be allocated to the Department of Fish and Game for the purposes of establishing a sea otter fund, as prescribed, and to the California Coastal Conservancy for competitive grants and contracts for research, projects, and programs related to the Federal Sea Otter Recovery Plan or improving the nearshore ocean ecosystem. The bill would require the Franchise Tax Board to revise the 2011 form of tax returns to provide for the designation created by this bill, and would allow, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller to receive a portion of the funds designated to cover costs incurred in collecting and administering the funds. This bill makes legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of the California Sea Otter Fund.