Fishing and hunting: youth program.

A new Section 1 with legislative findings was added, stating that time in nature is meaningful for youth with life-threatening illnesses, that existing disability programs may be insufficient, and citing state policies on ecosystem-based management and equitable access to nature.

New subdivision (b) explicitly prohibits the regulations from including: exemptions from hunter education requirements, exemptions from valid hunting or sport fishing license requirements, exemptions from other eligibility requirements, or any additional tags, stamps, permits, or reservations beyond what is available to all hunters and fishers through lottery or auction.

The commission is now required to 'adopt regulations' rather than simply 'establish a program.' This shifts the implementation from a discretionary administrative action to a formal rulemaking process with regulatory force.

Special hunts language changed from the commission 'may authorize' special hunts (permissive) to the commission shall 'consider authorizing' special hunts as an accommodation. This requires the commission to at least evaluate the option but does not mandate it.

The 2032 report must now be submitted to both the Legislature and the Fish and Game Commission (previously only the Legislature). The department is now required to 'shall solicit' recommendations from stakeholders rather than merely having the option to do so, with a more detailed list of who to consult.

Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez was added as a coauthor. Page numbering shifted from 96 to 95 throughout the document.

Removed eligibility for youth who have lost a parent in service to the state or country. The program now applies only to youth with life-threatening illnesses.

Added a California residency requirement: participants must be 'resident youth.'

Wild pigs added as a species for which hunting opportunities must be provided, alongside big game, upland game birds, and migratory game birds.

The commission must establish the program on or before January 1, 2028.

Sunset clause: the entire section is repealed on January 1, 2033.

Consultation with stakeholders must occur through a public process, and now includes license holders under Section 7145 (in addition to Section 3031) and any other interested parties.

New program requirements: hunter education requirements cannot be waived; the department must consider program allocations when setting tag availability for limited-population species; the director must report program activities at commission meetings; the commission may authorize special hunts within general seasons.

The department must submit a report to legislative policy and budget committees by January 1, 2032, including participation data, improvement recommendations, and all costs and revenues. Data collection must avoid duplication and comply with Government Code Section 9795.

New definitions added: 'life-threatening illness' (possibility of termination of life within five years as stated in writing by the attending physician), 'program,' and 'youth' (individual younger than 18).

New subdivision (c) requires the commission to provide reasonable accommodations for participants under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and state disability laws. Accommodations must include authorization for a qualified assistant to accompany youth for tracking, retrieving, and dispatching game or fish. The commission may adopt additional accommodations (modified equipment, access provisions) consistent with safe, ethical, and science-based wildlife management practices, and must adopt rules to implement them.

New subdivision (d) clarifies that the section does not preclude the commission from granting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities under federal and state law, nor does it limit the commission's existing regulatory authority to implement the program.

Coauthors expanded: Senator Cortese added to the Senate coauthor list; Assembly Members Macedo and Wallis added to the Assembly coauthor list.

New subdivision (g) makes implementation of the entire section contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another act. Without funding, the program requirements will not take effect.

Assembly Member Hadwick was moved from the general coauthors list to a new 'Principal coauthor' designation, and Assembly Member Tangipa was added to the coauthors list.

A clerical error inserted the word 'illnesses.' after 'in service to the state or country' in both the legislative counsel's digest and Section 318(1) of the bill text. This appears to be a drafting mistake rather than an intentional policy change.