Fishing and hunting: annual combined hunting and fishing licenses.

Existing law requires every person 16 years of age or older who takes any fish, reptile, or amphibian for any purpose other than profit to first obtain a sport fishing license for that purpose, with specified exceptions. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue an annual sport fishing license to a resident or nonresident upon payment of the applicable fee. Under existing law, the annual sport fishing license is valid for the period of a calendar year, or, if issued after the beginning of the year, for the remainder of the year. Under existing law, a hunting license grants the privilege to take birds and mammals. Existing law requires the department to issue an annual hunting license to a resident or nonresident upon payment of the applicable fee. Under existing law, the annual hunting license is valid for a term of one year from July 1 to June 30, inclusive, or, if issued after the beginning of the term, for the remainder of the term. This bill would create the annual combined hunting and fishing license that would grant the holder of the license the same privileges as the annual hunting and fishing licenses and that would be valid for a term of one year from the date of purchase of the license. The bill would require the department to issue these licenses beginning January 1, 2024. The bill would require the department to submit a report to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2023, that among others things, estimates the initial license fee necessary to fully recover the cost of developing, implementing, and administering the license and associated enforcement activities. The bill would require the Fish and Game Commission to determine the amount of the initial license fee based upon information in that report. The bill would require the license fee to be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill would require the commission to adjust the amount of the fee to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the department and the commission relating to these licenses. The bill would require the department to provide an applicant for one of these licenses the option to automatically renew the license. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2028, to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the license, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030.