SB 1535: Strengthening the Dept. of Fish and Game

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is a deeply troubled agency, with growing responsibilities and a shrinking ability to meet them. The state, for example, has fewer game wardens than it did twenty years ago. Most of DFG’s problems are due to chronic underfunding and a Byzantine fee collection method that hamstrings the agency’s activities. SB 1535 (Kuehl) increases DFG’s environmental filing fees, indexes other filing fees to inflation, and declares legislative intent to secure new funding sources to adequately fund DFG’s wildlife protection activities.