(a) All money transferred to the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund shall be continuously appropriated and shall be allocated as follows:
(1) To the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller for reimbursement of all costs incurred by the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller in connection with their duties under this article.
(2) Fifty percent of the revenues remaining after allocation pursuant to paragraph (1), to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for the purposes of establishing a sea otter fund to be used for sea otter conservation, including, but not limited to, for increased investigation, prevention, and enforcement actions related to sea otter mortality, and for public outreach activities that encourage taxpayers to make contributions by voluntary checkoff on a tax return to the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund.
(3) Fifty percent of the revenues remaining after allocation pursuant to paragraph (1), to the State Coastal Conservancy for competitive grants and contracts to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for research, science, protection, projects, or programs related to the Federal Sea Otter Recovery Plan or improving the nearshore ocean ecosystem, including, but not limited to, program activities to reduce sea otter mortality, and for public outreach activities that encourage taxpayers to make contributions by voluntary checkoff on a tax return to the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund. The projects or programs may also address pathogens and water and wastewater treatment technologies.
(b) The State Coastal Conservancy shall solicit available federal, private, matching, and other dollars to maximize or leverage funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) to provide the greatest benefit for sea otters.
(c) The State Coastal Conservancy may enter into interagency agreements with public agencies for purposes of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).
(d) The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the State Coastal Conservancy shall each report on its internet website information regarding the process for awarding money, the amount spent on administration, and an itemization of how program funds were awarded.
(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 229, Sec. 4. (SB 587) Effective January 1, 2021. Inoperative on date prescribed in Section 18754.3. Repealed on or before January 1, 2028, as prescribed in 18754.3.)