Income taxes: voluntary contributions: California Beach and Coastal Enhancement Account.

The Personal Income Tax Law authorizes individuals to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds. Existing law creates the California Beach and Coastal Enhancement Account in the California Environmental License Plate Fund. This bill would authorize individuals to designate on their tax returns, under the designation titled "Protect Our Coast and Oceans Fund," that a contribution in excess of their tax liability be made to the California Beach and Coastal Enhancement Account. This bill would require that all moneys contributed to the account pursuant to these provisions, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be allocated to the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller for reimbursement and to the California Coastal Commission for grants and programs that preserve, protect, or enhance coastal resources and promote coastal and marine educational activities for underserved communities. This bill would provide that these voluntary contribution provisions are inoperative and repealed, respectively, on the earlier of January 1 of the 5th taxable year following the taxable year the account first appears on the tax return and December 1 of that year; or for taxable years beginning on or after January 1 of the calendar year in which the Franchise Tax Board estimates by September 1 that the contributions made on returns filed in that calendar year will be less than $250,000, or an adjusted amount for subsequent taxable years, and on December 1 of that calendar year.