SDHS Sponsors AB 1828 to Support California’s Native Wildlife

San Diego Humane Society is proudly sponsoring legislation this year to ensure critical funding for native wildlife rehabilitation remains available to California’s licensed, nonprofit rehabilitation organizations.

Authored by Assemblymember Marie Waldron, AB 1828 will do three critical things:

1. Renews the Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund for another 7 years. The Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund has been an unquestionable success since its launch in 2018. The grants funded by the contributions to support native wildlife rehabilitation have made it possible for the Department of Fish and Wildlife to award more than $2 million dollars to fifty-five (55) licensed, nonprofit rehabilitation organizations to date. Many eligible wildlife rehabilitators in California, including San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program, have received much-needed financial assistance through this competitive grant program.
2. Renews the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Voluntary Tax Contribution Program. Contributions to the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Voluntary Tax Contribution Program support conservation actions that help protect hundreds of rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals within our state. California is home to more than 5,000 native plant species and more than 1,000 native animal species. At least one third of plants, and two thirds of animals are endemic species that occur nowhere else in the world. Loss of habitat, water management conflicts, invasive species and climate change are the greatest threats to their long-term survival.
3. Allows for advance payments. The bill will authorize advance payments as an option for ensuring grant funds can be released expeditiously, and to limit administrative burden for both the state and recipient nonprofits. Given the small size of these grants (the range is from $3,000 to $19,000), this authorization is justified and will help ensure equitable and timely distributions.

You can read our full sponsor letter here, the joint sponsor letter from all of our colleagues here and AB 1828’s Fact Sheet here. We are grateful for Assemblymember Waldron’s continued commitment to California’s native wildlife. Governor Gavin Newsom approved and signed the bill on Sept. 22, 2024.