Fisheries: California Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program.

(1) Existing law establishes the California Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program for the purpose of basic and applied research on the artificial propagation, rearing, stocking, and distribution of adversely affected marine fish species that are important to sport or commercial fishing in ocean waters south of Point Arguello. Existing law provides funding for the program from the revenues derived from fees for sport fishing or commercial fishing ocean enhancement validations, which are required of persons taking fish, as specified, in those ocean waters. Under existing law, the program is administered by the Director of Fish and Wildlife with the advice and assistance of the Ocean Resources Enhancement Advisory Panel. Existing law specifies the membership of the advisory panel and establishes a specified appointing authority for each member of the advisory panel. Existing law prohibits financing of any part of the program unless it has been approved by the director and by a majority of the members of the advisory panel. This bill would expand the purpose of the program to encompass any marine fish species important to sport and commercial fishing. The bill would revise provisions relating to the advisory panel by, among other things, specifying which members are voting members, by adding a voting member representing the public or nongovernmental organization interests, or both, by providing for an alternate member to be designated for each voting member, and by establishing 3-year terms for each member and alternate member. The bill would require all members and alternate members to be appointed by the director after soliciting nominations for members and evaluating certain criteria. The bill would eliminate the advisory panel's nonadvisory functions, including the power to approve financing of any part of the program. The bill would require the director to establish an independent scientific advisory committee consisting of members appointed by the director with expertise in specified scientific areas, as provided. The bill would require the committee to provide advice to the director and the advisory panel and provide recommendations on specified matters relating to the program. From funds made available to the program, the bill would provide for the compensation of each member of the committee in an amount of $100 for each day of service with a limit of $500 per calendar year and would provide for each member's actual and necessary expenses. The bill would require the director to convene an annual public meeting where the committee would be required to present information regarding its evaluation of aspects of program science it completed during the preceding year and an outlook for future program activities. The bill would require the director, in the operation of the program, to consider the findings and results of a specified evaluation of the program. On or before July 1, 2027, the bill would require the director to submit a report to the relevant budget and policy committees of the Legislature and the Legislative Analyst's Office regarding the status of the program and the program's progress towards achieving its goals and objectives. The bill would require the report to include other specified information, including the findings of the committee. The bill would require the director to provide for the solicitation of input from every person who purchases a sport fishing or commercial fishing ocean enhancement validation on the direction of the program. (2) Existing law authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife to contract with private nonprofit organizations that meet certain criteria to conduct research projects for purposes of the California Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into one or more agreements to accept services from any person, nonprofit organization, or other public or private entity for purposes relating to conservation programs, projects, and activities by the department. This bill would expand the department's contracting authority under the program by authorizing the department to contract with any public or private entity to conduct research projects. The bill would also specifically authorize the department to accept volunteer assistance for program operations, provided that volunteers do not displace existing state employees. The bill would require all research and research results conducted through the program to be publicly available. (3) This bill would repeal the California Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program on January 1, 2028.