Fishing and hunting: youth program.

Plain English Breakdown

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Youth Fishing and Hunting Program

This law requires California's Fish and Game Commission to create a program by 2028 that helps young people with life-threatening illnesses go fishing and hunting for certain types of animals.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Fish and Game Commission to establish a youth program by January 1, 2028, to increase opportunities for resident youth with life-threatening illnesses to fish and hunt big game, wild pigs, upland birds, and migratory birds.
• Needs the commission to consult with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and other interested parties when making this program.
• Requires reasonable accommodations for participants based on federal and state disability laws.
• Allows the commission to add more reasonable accommodations as long as they are safe and follow wildlife management rules.
• Asks the department to report back to lawmakers by January 1, 2032, about how the program is going.

Who It Names or Affects

• Youth with life-threatening illnesses in California
• Fish and Game Commission of California
• Department of Fish and Wildlife

Terms To Know

Life-threatening illness

A serious health condition that could cause death.

Reasonable accommodations

Changes or support to help people with disabilities participate fully in activities.

Limits and Unknowns

• The program will only happen if the Legislature gives money for it.
• This law ends on January 1, 2033.

Official Summary Text

SB 1021, as amended, Choi.
Fishing and hunting: youth program.
The California Constitution establishes the Fish and Game Commission and provides for the delegation to the commission of powers relating to the protection and propagation of fish and game. Existing law places the Fish and Game Commission in the Natural Resources Agency.
This bill would require the commission to, on or before January 1, 2028, establish a program to increase opportunities to fish, and to hunt big game, wild pigs, upland game birds, and migratory game birds, for resident youth with life-threatening illnesses. The bill would require the commission, in developing the program, to consult with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, certain interested nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties.
The bill would require the
commission, in establishing and implementing the program, to provide reasonable accommodations for participants in accordance with federal and state disability laws, as prescribed. The bill would authorize the commission to adopt additional reasonable accommodations consistent with safe, ethical, and science-based wildlife management practices.
The bill would require the department to, on or before January 1, 2032, prepare and submit a report to the relevant legislative policy and budget committees in both houses of the Legislature, as provided.
The bill would make the implementation of its provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature.
The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2033.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF